defuses; defused; defusing
1
: to make (something) less serious, difficult, or tense
Skilled negotiators helped defuse the crisis/situation.
Her joke defused the tension in the room.
2
: to remove the part of (an explosive) that makes it explode : to remove the fuse from (an explosive)
defuse a bomb
Cite this Entry
“Defuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/defuse. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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