View synonyms for defuse

defuse

or de·fuze

[ dee-fyooz ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

, de·fused, de·fus·ing.

to remove the fuze from (a bomb, mine, etc.).
to make less dangerous, tense, or embarrassing:
to defuse a potentially ugly situation.

, de·fused, de·fus·ing.

defuse

/ diːˈfjuːz /

Origin of defuse¹

First recorded in 1940–45; de- + fuse ¹

But they still could have done more to defuse the calls for violence from their allies.

But will adding the real military defuse a situation many say has been inflamed by aggressive police?

Principle-based decision making could boost perceived integrity and defuse an overly personalized DC political climate.

One possible way to defuse the financial incentives and advantages to doping is to legalize it.

Utilities and energy-efficiency programs have helped defuse the high cost of the Nest.

At one base I was waiting when they wheeled in a stretcher with the remains of an Englishman who had been trying to defuse a bomb.

The stem of the black alder of this country before mentioned as arriving to great size, is simply branching and defuse.

So we had our people in Gdynia defuse the thing after it was put on board the ship, but otherwise leave it entirely alone.

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