defuse

Or de·fuze

[dee-fyooz]

verb (used with object)

defused, defusing 

1. to remove the fuze from (a bomb, mine, etc.).

2. to make less dangerous, tense, or embarrassing.

   to defuse a potentially ugly situation.

verb (used without object)

defused, defusing 

1. to grow less dangerous; weaken.

defuse

/ diːˈfjuːz /

verb

1. to remove the triggering device of (a bomb, etc)

2. to remove the cause of tension from (a crisis, etc)

Confusables Note

See diffuse

Other Word Forms

• defuser noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of defuse¹

First recorded in 1940–45; de- + fuse ¹

Example Sentences

Greer noted a willingness from his Chinese counterparts to talk to defuse the tensions that upended a fragile detente between the two rivals.

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To try to defuse the protests, Rajoelina sacked his entire government last month.

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To try to defuse the protests, the president last month sacked his entire government.

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The attack prompted "a temporary closure" of the 120-kilometre highway linking Maiduguri and Damaturu, the capital of neighbouring Yobe state, for the military to defuse explosives planted by the militants, the army said.

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This summer, restrictions on rare earths, including critical minerals, earlier this summer had led to an escalation between the U.S. and China that took several rounds of negotiations to defuse.

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Related Words

• alleviate 
• deactivate 
• lessen 
• soothe