Defuse
verb
To make a dangerous or tense situation calmer.
The negotiator was able to defuse the hostage situation peacefully.
Often appears as...
- defuse the situation
- defuse a crisis
verb
To remove the fuse from an explosive device making it safe.
The bomb squad was called in to defuse the bomb.
Often appears as...
- defuse a bomb
- defuse an explosive
verb
To reduce the intensity or severity of.
She managed to defuse her anger by going for a walk.
Often appears as...
- defuse anger
- defuse an argument
verb
To make a dangerous or tense situation calmer.
The negotiator was able to defuse the hostage situation peacefully.
Often appears as...
- defuse the situation
- defuse a crisis
verb
To remove the fuse from an explosive device making it safe.
The bomb squad was called in to defuse the bomb.
Often appears as...
- defuse a bomb
- defuse an explosive
verb
To reduce the intensity or severity of.
She managed to defuse her anger by going for a walk.
Often appears as...
- defuse anger
- defuse an argument
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Calm in Conflict
Used when someone prevents a disagreement or fight from getting worse.
The teacher's joke defused the tension between the arguing students.
Pro Tip 2/3Conflict Resolution
Emphasizes the action taken to calmly resolve a heated situation.
Dialogue between the leaders helped to defuse the border dispute.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
It’s often used metaphorically, not involving actual dangerous situations.
She defused a potential argument with her apology.
Pro Tip 1/3Calm in Conflict
Used when someone prevents a disagreement or fight from getting worse.
The teacher's joke defused the tension between the arguing students.
Pro Tip 2/3Conflict Resolution
Emphasizes the action taken to calmly resolve a heated situation.
Dialogue between the leaders helped to defuse the border dispute.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
It’s often used metaphorically, not involving actual dangerous situations.
She defused a potential argument with her apology.
Pro Tip 1/3Calm in Conflict
Used when someone prevents a disagreement or fight from getting worse.
The teacher's joke defused the tension between the arguing students.
Pro Tip 2/3Conflict Resolution
Emphasizes the action taken to calmly resolve a heated situation.
Dialogue between the leaders helped to defuse the border dispute.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
It’s often used metaphorically, not involving actual dangerous situations.
She defused a potential argument with her apology.
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Video examples
Surviving a nuclear...
think there's a lot of people in the intelligence community a lot of people will deal with this work in general think it's almost inevitable unless we do certain things to really to really try to defuse the risk like better interdiction better prevention better fixing in a better screening of cargo
Video examples
Can a divided America...
silence them, keep them away. I'm afraid that this whole generation of young people, if their introduction to politics involves a lot of disgust, they're not going to want to be involved in politics as they get older. So how do we deal with that? Disgust. How do you defuse disgust?
Video examples
The rise and fall of the...
East Germany tried to defuse tension by making travel permits easier to obtain. But the announcement brought thousands of East Berliners to the border crossing points in the wall, forcing the surprised guards to open the gates immediately. Rejoicing crowds poured into West Berlin
Video examples
Pulling back the curtain...
support them they're the ones leading the negotiation so inevitably if you have them shape their negotiation strategy or give them advice you will push them to take some radical decisions or radical positions so negotiations I assume can get tense how defuse that
Video examples
Making white people...
Iranian eggplant lover it's a market improvement now the next rule of thumb is don't be afraid to talk about politics okay politics are the burqa clad elephant in the room you have to talk about them to defuse the tension all right so I wrote
Video examples
Bringing forests into...
the videos and so therefore defuse potentially volatile situations so there was a shift from relying only on punishment to mindfully using peaceful conciliation in this in this situation probably the most remarkable result was
Video examples
Andrew Evans: Digital...
Geographic Society has been organized to increase and defuse Geographic knowledge and a magazine has been determined upon as one means as one means of accomplishing these purposes this is the important line we need to all pay
Video examples
How CRISPR lets us edit...
Bacteria have to deal with viruses in their environment, and we can think about a viral infection like a ticking time bomb -- a bacterium has only a few minutes to defuse the bomb before it gets destroyed.
Video examples
Go to umpire school PIPE...
zen-like thing to do to learn how to stay composed in the middle of chaos to learn how to communicate in a way that will defuse a potentially violent situation very important in umpiring how
Video examples
Defending a Monkey Harem...
The gossipy banter can sound to scientists like sentences with words or even names for each other. Most agree it's often used to defuse tension.
Video examples
Surviving a nuclear...
think there's a lot of people in the intelligence community a lot of people will deal with this work in general think it's almost inevitable unless we do certain things to really to really try to defuse the risk like better interdiction better prevention better fixing in a better screening of cargo
Video examples
Can a divided America...
silence them, keep them away. I'm afraid that this whole generation of young people, if their introduction to politics involves a lot of disgust, they're not going to want to be involved in politics as they get older. So how do we deal with that? Disgust. How do you defuse disgust?
Video examples
The rise and fall of the...
East Germany tried to defuse tension by making travel permits easier to obtain. But the announcement brought thousands of East Berliners to the border crossing points in the wall, forcing the surprised guards to open the gates immediately. Rejoicing crowds poured into West Berlin
Video examples
Pulling back the curtain...
support them they're the ones leading the negotiation so inevitably if you have them shape their negotiation strategy or give them advice you will push them to take some radical decisions or radical positions so negotiations I assume can get tense how defuse that
Video examples
Making white people...
Iranian eggplant lover it's a market improvement now the next rule of thumb is don't be afraid to talk about politics okay politics are the burqa clad elephant in the room you have to talk about them to defuse the tension all right so I wrote
Video examples
Bringing forests into...
the videos and so therefore defuse potentially volatile situations so there was a shift from relying only on punishment to mindfully using peaceful conciliation in this in this situation probably the most remarkable result was
Video examples
Andrew Evans: Digital...
Geographic Society has been organized to increase and defuse Geographic knowledge and a magazine has been determined upon as one means as one means of accomplishing these purposes this is the important line we need to all pay
Video examples
How CRISPR lets us edit...
Bacteria have to deal with viruses in their environment, and we can think about a viral infection like a ticking time bomb -- a bacterium has only a few minutes to defuse the bomb before it gets destroyed.
Video examples
Go to umpire school PIPE...
zen-like thing to do to learn how to stay composed in the middle of chaos to learn how to communicate in a way that will defuse a potentially violent situation very important in umpiring how
Video examples
Defending a Monkey Harem...
The gossipy banter can sound to scientists like sentences with words or even names for each other. Most agree it's often used to defuse tension.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Ben Carson
American Scientist
One of the reasons surgeons have so much trouble separating Siamese twins is that nobody gets to do many of them. On the table, the anatomy is so different from normal, that you're constantly trying to figure out, 'Can I cut this? Does this wire lead to what?' It's like trying to defuse a bomb.
Quote examples
Billy Gardell
American Comedian
The quickest way to defuse fear or insecurity or anger is usually humor. I think comics figure that out quickly, and, once you figure it out, you think, 'Hey, if I can do this and get paid, that would be kind of cool.
Quote examples
Josh Gondelman
American Author
Especially when I'm heckled, that's a sticky situation because I don't defuse it... I really envy guys who have a grittier onstage presence and can really go after someone. I used to teach preschool.
Quote examples
William C. Kirby
Chinese Educator
The PRC is the big brother in this relationship, and it has the capacity to be generous to Taiwan on this issue in a manner that might do much to defuse that issue internally in Taiwan.
Quote examples
Matthew Perry
Actor
When I was younger, I used humour as a tool to avoid getting too serious with people - if there was deep emotional stuff going on, then I would crack a joke to defuse the situation.
Quote examples
Dan Hill
Canadian Musician
I'm an intense guy. I run 10 miles a day, which helps alleviate my intensity. Also, singing helps defuse my intensity. Playing the piano helps, and writing helps.
Quote examples
James Merrill
American Poet
Knowing some Greek helped defuse forbidding words - not that I counted much on using them. You'll find only trace elements of this language in the poem.
Quote examples
Frances Beinecke
American Activist
Strong limits on carbon pollution will save Americans money, create jobs, improve our health, and help defuse climate change.
Quote examples
Jack Whitehall
British Comedian
If I'm in an uncomfortable situation, I think I can say something funny to defuse it. Sometimes you can't.
Quote examples
Brad Paisley
American Musician
I defuse everything I can with it. Humor is such a great shield.
Quote examples
Ben Carson
American Scientist
One of the reasons surgeons have so much trouble separating Siamese twins is that nobody gets to do many of them. On the table, the anatomy is so different from normal, that you're constantly trying to figure out, 'Can I cut this? Does this wire lead to what?' It's like trying to defuse a bomb.
Quote examples
Billy Gardell
American Comedian
The quickest way to defuse fear or insecurity or anger is usually humor. I think comics figure that out quickly, and, once you figure it out, you think, 'Hey, if I can do this and get paid, that would be kind of cool.
Quote examples
Josh Gondelman
American Author
Especially when I'm heckled, that's a sticky situation because I don't defuse it... I really envy guys who have a grittier onstage presence and can really go after someone. I used to teach preschool.
Quote examples
William C. Kirby
Chinese Educator
The PRC is the big brother in this relationship, and it has the capacity to be generous to Taiwan on this issue in a manner that might do much to defuse that issue internally in Taiwan.
Quote examples
Matthew Perry
Actor
When I was younger, I used humour as a tool to avoid getting too serious with people - if there was deep emotional stuff going on, then I would crack a joke to defuse the situation.
Quote examples
Dan Hill
Canadian Musician
I'm an intense guy. I run 10 miles a day, which helps alleviate my intensity. Also, singing helps defuse my intensity. Playing the piano helps, and writing helps.
Quote examples
James Merrill
American Poet
Knowing some Greek helped defuse forbidding words - not that I counted much on using them. You'll find only trace elements of this language in the poem.
Quote examples
Frances Beinecke
American Activist
Strong limits on carbon pollution will save Americans money, create jobs, improve our health, and help defuse climate change.
Quote examples
Jack Whitehall
British Comedian
If I'm in an uncomfortable situation, I think I can say something funny to defuse it. Sometimes you can't.
Quote examples
Brad Paisley
American Musician
I defuse everything I can with it. Humor is such a great shield.
Example 1 of 10
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