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
From the M-W Editors
Examples of defuse in a Sentence
Skilled negotiators helped defuse the crisis.
Recent Examples of defuse from the Web
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After defusing a violent fight — someone lost an eye — he was rewarded with the zone behind home plate, at field level.
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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.
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But by the time police and local media arrived, the crisis was defused.
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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.
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Some employed the ancient debating trick of trying to defuse an opponent’s arguments by ruling them old-hat, or out-of-order.
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There is also no one in line for the Asia policy job, just when there is talk about whether the North Korea crisis will be defused by negotiation or steam toward conflict.
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Those in favor of tasers often point to the fact that the device can be used to defuse a situation without an officer having to turn to a deadly force, like a gun.
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Given an opportunity to apologize and defuse the incident back then, Sherman instead wound up escalating it.
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
playDefinition of defuse for English Language Learners
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: to make (something) less serious, difficult, or tense
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: to remove the part of (an explosive) that makes it explode : to remove the fuse from (an explosive)
Learn More about defuse
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See words that rhyme with defuse Spanish Central: Translation of defuse Nglish: Translation of defuse for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of defuse for Arabic speakers
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