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Defuse or Diffuse?
What Is the Difference between "Defuse" and "Diffuse"?
"Defuse" and "diffuse" are easy to confuse because their spellings are similar and English is so inconsistent with pronunciation.- Defuse. "Defuse" (which rhymes with news) means to remove the fuse.
- Defuse the grenade before storing it.
- Defuse the situation by talking calmly.
- Diffuse. "Diffuse" (which rhymes with juice) means spread out. As a verb, it means to dissipate.

More about "Defuse" and "Diffuse"
Defuse
The verb "to defuse" refers to the act of deactivating a bomb. (Defuse literally means "to remove the fuse.") It is often used figuratively to mean "to disarm" or "to pacify."Example sentences with "defuse":
- How long did it take you to defuse the bomb?
- Paul, go back in the meeting and defuse all the arguing.
Diffuse
The adjective "diffuse means" "spread out" or "not concentrated in one place." "Diffuse" can also be a verb meaning "to circulate" or "to spread."Example sentences with "diffuse":
- She is the CEO of a large diffuse company.
- I need speakers that will diffuse my music around the whole arena.
"Defuse Tension" or "Diffuse Tension"?
Writers' confusion over "defuse" and "diffuse" is understandable because both "defuse" and "diffuse" work when used figuratively in a term like "to defuse/diffuse tension." For example:- The aim of the strategy is to defuse the tension between India and Pakistan.
- The aim of the strategy is to diffuse the tension between India and Pakistan.
"Defuse the Situation" or "Diffuse the Situation"?
Logically, both "defuse the situation" and "diffuse the situation" could work, but the common saying is "defuse the situation." (It means to fix the situation by removing or reducing the cause.)Ready for the Test?
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