defusing
Making bombs safe
Defusing is the act of removing a fuse from an explosive device, rendering it harmless.
The figurative sense dominates everyday use: to defuse a situation is to reduce its tension or danger before it explodes into conflict: She defused the argument with a well-timed joke.
Often confused with diffusing, which means spreading out.
Reducing conflict intensity
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
diplomacy · peacemaking · intervention · calming · dialogue · compromise · resolution · appeasement
Remove capacity to harm
- detonatorExplosive initiation device
- bombExplosive device or disaster
- timerDuration-tracking mechanism
- wiresMetallic electrical conductors
EOD · ordnance · disposal · neutralize · explosive · circuitry · tripwire · IED
Inducing a settled state
- reassuringRestoring calm or confidence
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
- comfortingGiving emotional ease
- disarmingAllaying suspicion through warmth
placating · mollifying · humor · levity · joke · icebreaker · distraction · redirection
de-escalation
Reducing conflict intensity
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
reconciliation · diplomacy · peacemaking · intervention · calming · dialogue · compromise · resolution · appeasement · cooling
disarm
Remove capacity to harm
- detonatorExplosive initiation device
- bombExplosive device or disaster
- timerDuration-tracking mechanism
wires · EOD · ordnance · disposal · neutralize · explosive · circuitry · tripwire · IED · landmine
calming
Inducing a settled state
- reassuringRestoring calm or confidence
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
- comfortingGiving emotional ease
disarming · placating · mollifying · humor · levity · joke · icebreaker · distraction · redirection · gentle
- Bomb Disposalbomb disposal, bomb squad, EOD, bomb robot, bomb disposal robot
- de-escalationde-escalation, calming, pacification, placation, mollification
- neutralizationneutralization, pH balance, buffer, buffer solution, buffering
- heroismbravery, valor, hero, courage, heroism
- peacemakingnegotiation, mediation, peace agreement, mediate, pacifying
- restrainingconstraining, restricting, limiting, confining, curbing
defusingarming
Providing with weapons
fusing · activating · priming · setting · rigging
defusingescalating
Increasing by degrees
inflaming · provoking · aggravating · agitating · inciting
refuse, confuse, fuse, fusion, infuse, diffuse, profuse, defuse, diffusion