defuse

“To me it’s as though we are trying to defuse a bomb.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

The volunteers risking their lives to defuse Indonesia's wildfire 'carbon bombs'

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

She implemented wry wit like a tactical defense, a trusty tool in her arsenal that could disarm an opponent and defuse tricky conversations.

From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026

Cooper said he had to defuse that encounter.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

“And sometimes no. Completely depends on the circumstance. If you want to defuse an emotional situation, use the neutral expression. If you're under attack, dominate with the eyes. All right, Mila, you’re next. Ready?”

From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee

He defuses them, crushing the cans and dragging them into the driveway.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 10, 2025

The men work for Turn Up Knox, a year-old outreach program that mentors kids and defuses situations that could escalate into violence.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 24, 2023

The songs are back, preceded by dialogue in which Guenevere preemptively defuses their sting with Sorkin-esque wit.

From New York Times ● Mar. 22, 2023

An unprecedented compromise between the enemy states, the deal opens the way for offshore energy exploration and defuses one source of potential conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

From Reuters ● Oct. 18, 2022

And although there couldn’t be a more neutral statement, it defuses any insectious worries I might have given her.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

New Zealand's smarts initially defused the fire and fury inside the cauldron, however.

From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026

She declined to answer questions on whether tensions had been defused with Washington.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2026

The summit will offer Brussels the chance to turn the page after a bruising transatlantic crisis over Greenland -- now seemingly defused.

From Barron's ● Jan. 24, 2026

Traders will weigh whether the risk in Iran is “genuinely defused or simply resting,” because calm in the Persian Gulf has a “habit of braking without warning,” he added.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 16, 2026

Seven’s dad wasn’t expecting it but defused the fire with his own stream of calming magic.

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

Several chapters are devoted to Kip’s stories of defusing bombs and saving English lives, all aided by Lord Suffolk’s encouragement.

From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026

He landed on the cover of Time magazine in 1999, the leading figure in what the magazine dubbed “The Committee to Save the World” after defusing financial crises in Asia and Russia.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

She has tightened drug enforcement along the border, expelled imprisoned cartel bosses wanted by the U.S. and imposed 50% tariffs on Chinese-made vehicles and other goods, defusing U.S. threats of harsher tariffs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 27, 2025

After a press conference which it held in the hope of defusing the outrage turned into a PR disaster, the company held a second one that lasted 10 hours - intended to show remorse.

From BBC ● Feb. 23, 2025

The small concession placated the demonstrators outside the courthouse and they agreed to leave, defusing the situation, at least for a while.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson