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

The former President informed the Clinton Administration that he intended to take up a prior offer from the North Koreans to visit and try to defuse the situation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Ritchson, according to the source, attempted to defuse the situation after Taylor allegedly dared him to get physical.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

If these megacap IPOs don’t come to market, it would defuse Grantham’s bearish prediction — and might even be bullish.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 17, 2026

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 • Feb. 12, 2026

Their levels of cortisol actually went down, as if they were unconsciously trying to defuse their own anger.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• alleviate
• deactivate
• lessen
• soothe