defuse

verb

de·fuse (ˌ)dē-ˈfyüz

defused; defusing; defuses

transitive verb

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

: to make less harmful, potent, or tense

defuse a crisis

Did you know?

defuse or diffuse?

Many people find it difficult to remember the difference between defuse and diffuse, and when faced with the need for one of these words simply grab whichever one first comes to mind. But it needn’t be this way: the meanings of these two are quite a bit different, and there is a simple way to differentiate between them. Defuse is formed by adding the prefix de- to the word fuse; you are removing the fuse (either literally or figuratively) when you defuse a situation, much as defanging something entails removing the fangs. Diffuse, when used as a verb, tends to carry meanings such as “spread” or “scatter.” Additionally, diffuse is the only one which may be found used as an adjective.

Examples of defuse in a Sentence

Skilled negotiators helped defuse the crisis.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Additionally, humor can defuse tension in challenging situations, promoting collaboration and empathy. —

Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 11 Dec. 2024 The prosecution argued Penny did not hesitate before placing Neely in a chokehold and failed to try to defuse the situation another way. —

Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024 An envoy from Iran, which stands accused of trying to assassinate Trump, reportedly met with Musk to talk about defusing tensions. —

Simon Shuster, TIME, 21 Nov. 2024 The longer-term outlook is for the regional conflict to keep simmering as global powers look to contain rather than totally defuse the situation. —

Byjason Ma, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for defuse