defuse
dee-FYOOZ
/ˌdiːˈfjuːz/
To remove the fuse from an explosive device, or to make a tense situation less dangerous, hostile, or tense.
Implies neutralizing a highly volatile, explosive situation before it erupts.
The story behind the word. Originally a literal military term from the early 20th century meaning to remove the fuse from a bomb. It quickly became a popular metaphor for disarming explosive human emotions and tense standoffs.
Word relationships
- alleviate: Alleviate means to make physical or mental pain more bearable, whereas defuse specifically means to neutralize an explosive or hostile threat.
- ignite: Ignite means to spark or trigger an explosion or conflict, which is the direct opposite of defusing it.
Commonly confused with
- diffuse: Diffuse (with a double 'f') means to scatter or spread widely, while defuse (with 'de-') means to remove a fuse or de-escalate tension.
Word family
- defusal (noun): The act of removing a fuse or de-escalating tension.
Collocations
- defuse a bomb
- defuse a situation
- defuse tension
Example sentences
- "His calm, humorous response helped to defuse the tense confrontation." Conflict Management
- "The manager stepped in to defuse the argument before it disrupted the entire office." Crisis Leadership
Memory hook
De-fuse: Remove the fuse from the bomb before it blows up. Take out the fuse to stop the explosion.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'diffuse' (which means to spread out over a wide area).
Fun facts
- The spelling confusion between 'defuse' and 'diffuse' is so common that even major newspapers occasionally print 'diffuse the tension', which literally means to spread the tension everywhere!
Related words
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