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
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
When asked about the best techniques for defusing tense encounters while still maintaining the right to protect, civil rights advocates in Connecticut are generally recommending online training in turning down the heat on face-to-face encounters with ICE agents or counter-protestors.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
But insufficient attention has been paid to the rapid and, in certain cases, decisive loss of legitimacy—the quasi-magical element that helps any stable status quo command respect and defuse potentially explosive dissent.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Head coach Mike Vrabel was asked about the internet doctors who were speculating about Maye’s injury, and Vrabel did not defuse the concerns of Patriots nation with his answer.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defuse
Cite this Entry
“Defuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defuse. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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