defuse

American  

[dee-fyooz] / diˈfyuz /

Or defuze

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.

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verb (used without object)

defused, defusing

1. to grow less dangerous; weaken.

defuse British  

/ diːˈfjuːz /

verb

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

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

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Commonly Confused

See diffuse

Other Word Forms

• defuser noun

Etymology

Origin of defuse

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

Example Sentences

One evening in early February, a handful of progressive activists boarded buses outside Jerusalem's Teddy Stadium to document instances of violence and defuse the situation if necessary.

From Barron's

Attempts by Kim to defuse the outrage with an apology a day after the town hall appear to have failed.

From BBC

By the third quarter of 2025, the company appeared to have largely defused those concerns, they say.

From The Wall Street Journal

Despite the prime minister's attempt to defuse the row, some of his own MPs are calling on him to stand down.

From BBC

The talks, initially planned to be held in Istanbul, are an effort led by Egypt, Turkey and Qatar to defuse tensions.

From BBC

Related Words

• alleviate
• deactivate
• lessen
• soothe