defuse
Americanverb (used with object)
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defuses,
present (3rd person singular)
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defused,
past participle, past
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defusing
present participle
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to remove the fuze from (a bomb, mine, etc.).
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to make less dangerous, tense, or embarrassing.
to defuse a potentially ugly situation.
verb (used without object)
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defuses,
present (3rd person singular)
-
defused,
past participle, past
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defusing
present participle
verb
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to remove the triggering device of (a bomb, etc)
-
to remove the cause of tension from (a crisis, etc)
Commonly Confused
See diffuse
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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defusesimple
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defusessimple
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have defusedperfect
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has defusedperfect
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am defusingprogressive
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are defusingprogressive
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is defusingprogressive
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have been defusingperfect progressive
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has been defusingperfect progressive
Past
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defusedsimple
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had defusedperfect
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was defusingprogressive
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were defusingprogressive
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had been defusingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of defuse
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
She implemented wry wit like a tactical defense, a trusty tool in her arsenal that could disarm an opponent and defuse tricky conversations.
From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026
And while I'm realistic enough to know he doesn't really hold treasured memories of our previous encounters, I'm impressed by his ability to defuse the tension of Meeting A Beatle.
From BBC ● May 27, 2026
To defuse the outcry, the FDA last fall agreed to reconsider the drug.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 14, 2026
US President Donald Trump frequently refers to Munir as his "favourite field marshal", after a rapport built during US efforts to defuse a short but intense armed conflict between Pakistan and rival India last year.
From Barron's ● Apr. 12, 2026
It was clear that someone else—probably Johanna—had written the statement and that he had been compelled to read it to defuse the situation.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
The songs are back, preceded by dialogue in which Guenevere preemptively defuses their sting with Sorkin-esque wit.
From New York Times ● Mar. 22, 2023
"He has got to make a clean breast. I usually find that if you make your apologies, it defuses the issue. Can't have it hanging on," said the lawmaker.
From Reuters ● Jan. 12, 2022
Studies by Kross and others show that talking to yourself in the third person takes the edge off stress and defuses it, often quite quickly.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 7, 2021
“We’re going to see Elton John and just have some fun together, no deadlines, no sides to learn. It defuses the permanency of the last day of shooting.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 6, 2020
And although there couldn’t be a more neutral statement, it defuses any insectious worries I might have given her.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
But when I apologized by admitting it was my first real investment and I simply didn’t know better, the tension defused.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026
She declined to answer questions on whether tensions had been defused with Washington.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2026
The summit will offer Brussels the chance to turn the page after a bruising transatlantic crisis over Greenland -- now seemingly defused.
From Barron's ● Jan. 24, 2026
Traders will weigh whether the risk in Iran is “genuinely defused or simply resting,” because calm in the Persian Gulf has a “habit of braking without warning,” he added.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 16, 2026
Seven’s dad wasn’t expecting it but defused the fire with his own stream of calming magic.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
Several chapters are devoted to Kip’s stories of defusing bombs and saving English lives, all aided by Lord Suffolk’s encouragement.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
Earlier this week, Netflix converted its $27.75 a share bid to an all-cash offer in hopes of defusing some of Paramount’s criticisms of its deal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2026
She has tightened drug enforcement along the border, expelled imprisoned cartel bosses wanted by the U.S. and imposed 50% tariffs on Chinese-made vehicles and other goods, defusing U.S. threats of harsher tariffs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 27, 2025
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam was more cautious, saying Lebanon remained "far" from diplomatic normalisation with Israel and that the talks were focused on "defusing tension".
From BBC ● Dec. 4, 2025
“Everyone has their own reasons for the choices they make,” Patria said, defusing the charged atmosphere, “and we have to respect that.”
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
