defuse

or de·fuze

[ dee-fyooz ]

/ diˈfyuz /

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See synonyms for defuse on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), de·fused, de·fus·ing.

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

to make less dangerous, tense, or embarrassing: to defuse a potentially ugly situation.

verb (used without object), de·fused, de·fus·ing.

to grow less dangerous; weaken.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of defuse

First recorded in 1940–45; de- + fuse¹

OTHER WORDS FROM defuse

de·fus·er, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH defuse

defuse , diffuse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use defuse in a sentence

Several Republicans suggested that her speeches — inside the private GOP meeting and later on the floor — helped defuse the issue inside the party ranks.
House ejects Marjorie Taylor Greene from committees over extremist remarks|Mike DeBonis|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
Metro Transit Police can intervene, although officers have been given masks to carry to defuse tense situations.
Transportation agencies wrestle with new federal mask mandate|Luz Lazo, Lori Aratani, Justin George|February 2, 2021|Washington Post
I wanted a show that would glide through my neural pathways, defusing the daily mind bombs CNN’s “Situation Room” often set off.
To detox from the news, I binge-watched ‘Dallas.’ It was more than just fun.|Sibbie O'Sullivan|January 20, 2021|Washington Post
I’ve shared these learnings with dozens of elected officials around the country, who have successfully applied them to defuse violent events.
D.C. Officials Ignored the Lessons We Learned in Charlottesville. Here Are 3 Things Leaders Should Do to Help Prevent Future Attacks|Michael Signer|January 13, 2021|Time

One woman received $40,000 after saying an officer pulled her hair and punched her as she tried to defuse an argument between two others.
These are the police misconduct lawsuits the public hears little about|Paul Schwartzman|December 25, 2020|Washington Post
As the movie reveals, an EOD soldier is not just an expert bomb-defuser.
The Real-Life Hurt Locker|Bryan Curtis|February 2, 2010|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for defuse

defuse

sometimes US defuze

/ (diːˈfjuːz) /

verb (tr)

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

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

undefined defuse

Avoid confusion with diffuse

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

defuse

or de·fuze

Origin of defuse

OTHER WORDS FROM defuse

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH defuse

Words related to defuse

How to use defuse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for defuse

sometimes US defuze

undefined defuse