defuse

verb

de·​fuse (ˌ)dē-ˈfyüz 

defused; defusing; defuses

transitive verb

1

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

2

: 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

That bot reportedly encouraged harmful behavior instead of defusing it. —The Ai Insider, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2025

Nevertheless, using humor in a presentation is a powerful tool for engaging an audience, defusing a tense situation, and conveying a sense of authenticity as a leader – if done well. —Jay Sullivan, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025

The two lovers’ farewell is intercut with a policeman in heavy protective gear attempting to defuse a bomb. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 20 Aug. 2025

By end of 2021, Russian troops returned to the border in even greater numbers, and Biden made another attempt to defuse the tensions with a presidential summit. —Simon Shuster, Time, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for defuse

• accrues
• accuse
• aircrews
• amuse
• bamboos
• breakthroughs
• canoes
• cashews
• chartreuse
• confuse
• construes
• ensues