defuse
verb
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
Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Israel's resumption of airstrikes on Gaza stamped the end of its ceasefire with Hamas and added to tension in the Middle East, which U.S. President Donald Trump had pledged to defuse.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Those fears compelled both leaders to defuse the crisis.
—Paul Avey, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2025
One way to defuse tensions would be for Panama to cancel its leases with the company, although that could lead to legal challenges and steep costs.
—Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defuse
Articles Related to defuse
Cite this Entry
“Defuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defuse. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share