defangs
Makes less dangerous
Defangs means to remove the fangs from a snake or other venomous creature, rendering it harmless.
The word is almost always figurative: to defang something is to strip it of power or danger.
A regulation might be defanged by amendments that gut its enforcement provisions.
Critics accused lawmakers of defanging the bill.
Judgment of faults
- threatIndication of potential harm
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
regulation · policy · amendment · weaken · water down · gut · emasculate · neuter
Remove capacity to harm
- counteractNullify by opposing force
- neutralizeCancel an effect
- deactivateTurn off or neutralize
- detoxifyRemove poisonous substances
mitigate · antivenom · antitoxin · blunt · weaken · dilute · undermine · strip
Limbless scaled reptile
- viperFanged toxic serpent
- cobraHooded venomous serpent
- rattlesnakeViper with segmented tail noisemaker
- serpentCunning, limbless reptile
venomous · extraction · reptile · bite · poison · herpetologist · wildlife · zoo
criticism
Judgment of faults
- threatIndication of potential harm
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
legislation · regulation · policy · amendment · weaken · water down · gut · emasculate · neuter · toothless
disarm
Remove capacity to harm
- counteractNullify by opposing force
- neutralizeCancel an effect
- deactivateTurn off or neutralize
detoxify · mitigate · antivenom · antitoxin · blunt · weaken · dilute · undermine · strip · disable
snake
Limbless scaled reptile
- viperFanged toxic serpent
- cobraHooded venomous serpent
- rattlesnakeViper with segmented tail noisemaker
serpent · venomous · extraction · reptile · bite · poison · herpetologist · wildlife · zoo · predator
domesticate
Train for human cohabitation
restrain · control · manage · break · condition · socialize · desensitize · acclimate · moderate · curb
defangsstrengthens
Increases force or durability
amplifies · intensifies · supercharges · reinvigorates · energizes
defangsempowers
Grants ability or authority
strengthens · enables · fortifies · bolsters · reinforces