What does defused mean?
"Defused" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "defuse," which has both a literal and a figurative meaning. In its literal sense, to defuse an explosive device is to remove its fuse or otherwise disable its firing mechanism so that it can no longer detonate — work traditionally carried out by bomb disposal experts. In its far more common figurative sense, defusing means calming or deflating a tense, angry, or dangerous situation, as when a skilled negotiator defuses a crisis or a light-hearted remark defuses an awkward moment. The word carries connotations of skill, calm, and the successful prevention of harm, and it appears frequently in journalism and everyday speech alike. It derives from the prefix "de-" plus "fuse," the latter ultimately from Latin "fusus," and it should not be confused with the similar-sounding "diffused," which means spread out.
verb (past tense and past participle of defuse)The past tense and past participle of "defuse": to remove the fuse from an explosive device, or, figuratively, to reduce or eliminate the danger, tension, or hostility in a situation.
- Removed the fuse or firing mechanism from an explosive device to render it harmless.
- Reduced or eliminated tension, anger, or danger in a difficult situation.
"Negotiators defused the standoff before it escalated into violence."
"Bomb disposal experts defused the device found outside the station."
"A well-timed joke defused the argument before anyone lost their temper."
Despite what many spellings suggest, there is no such word as "defuze" — the word literally means to take the *fuse* out of a bomb.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of defused
"Defused" comes from the verb "defuse," formed in English from the prefix "de-" (indicating removal) combined with "fuse," the igniting cord or mechanism of an explosive device. "Fuse" itself entered English from Italian "fuso" and French "fusée," ultimately deriving from Latin "fusus," meaning "spindle." The word thus shares its Latin root with cognates such as "diffuse," "confusion," and "suffuse." Originally used strictly of explosives, it quickly developed the figurative sense of reducing tension that dominates modern usage.
Related word forms
How defused is actually used
Both literal (explosives) and figurative (tension, conflict) senses are standard; the figurative sense is now far more common in everyday usage. Note that the spelling "diffuse" is frequently but incorrectly used in place of "defuse."
Easily confused with defused
"Diffused" means spread out or scattered widely, while "defused" means made safe or less dangerous — the confusion arises because they are near-homophones.