defuse
defuse Lexical Profile
defuse Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To reduce the tension, hostility, or danger in a difficult or volatile situation.
"The mediator used humor and active listening to defuse the heated argument between the two board members."
To remove the fuse from an explosive device in order to prevent it from detonating.
"Specially trained technicians were called to the construction site to safely defuse the unexploded historic ordnance."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often confused with 'diffuse', which means to spread out over a wide area; 'defuse' specifically means to remove a fuse or reduce tension in a conflict.
• Rhymes for defuse
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-20th century (specifically during World War II) by combining the privative prefix 'de-' with 'fuse' (from Italian 'fuso' and Latin 'fusus', meaning 'spindle', referring to the spindle-shaped tube holding gunpowder).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.