defuse

play

verb de·fuse \ (ˌ)dē-ˈfyüz \

Definition of defuse

transitive verb

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

2 :to make less harmful, potent, or tense

defuse a crisis

See defuse defined for English-language learners

Examples of defuse in a Sentence

Skilled negotiators helped defuse the crisis.

Recent Examples of defuse from the Web

And there was a certain spirit of self-aware unseriousness to that film that defused criticism of its gleeful one-dimensionality.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "'Atomic Blonde' movie review: Looks sexy, feels empty," 28 July 2017
The continued protests meant that the escalating crisis between Israel and the Muslim world, which began in mid-July, was not defused, even after Israel backed down on the metal detectors.

— aron heller, The Seattle Times, "Muslims keep up shrine boycott despite Israeli concessions," 25 July 2017
The continued protests meant that the escalating crisis between Israel and the Muslim world, which began in mid-July, has not been defused, even after Israel backed down on the metal detectors.

— karin laub and aron heller, The Christian Science Monitor, "In a conciliatory move, Israeli officials take down metal detectors from shared shrine," 25 July 2017
The situation was defused when the two sides agreed to move to the bargaining table.

— bill mcgraw, Detroit Free Press, "Before '67 riot, Detroit thought it could avoid civil unrest," 15 July 2017
After defusing a violent fight — someone lost an eye — he was rewarded with the zone behind home plate, at field level.

— lyndsay winkley, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Veteran couple enjoys long deployment together: 70 years and counting," 11 July 2017
Accompanying Tebo at the scene were several NOPD graduates from the department's Crisis Intervention Team, who have received specialized training in defusing tense situations involving the mentally disturbed.

— ken daley, NOLA.com, "St. Charles Avenue closure forced by man dangling outside Gallier Hall," 1 July 2017
But by the time police and local media arrived, the crisis was defused.

— CBS News, "The Secret Life Of Paige Birgfeld," 1 July 2017
Fitzgerald said that Fort Worth police officers, from top to bottom, including himself, are going through de-escalation training, or learning methods of how to effectively defuse tense situations.

— ryan osborne and mitch mitchell, star-telegram, "Fort Worth officer fired for shooting man who held barbecue fork," 27 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'defuse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of defuse

1943

DEFUSE Defined for English Language Learners

defuse

play

verb

Definition of defuse for English Language Learners

: to make (something) less serious, difficult, or tense
: to remove the part of (an explosive) that makes it explode : to remove the fuse from (an explosive)