defuse

Permitting the yuan to appreciate nominally against the dollar might also be viewed as a sort of olive branch that could defuse the risk of a unified tariff pushback.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 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

On Tuesday, before Svyrydenko's announcement, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk -- at loggerheads with the country's nationalist president on a number of fronts -- sought to defuse the tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

We tried to defuse the tension, to talk about it without really talking about it, to joke-ify it.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

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

"He has got to make a clean breast. I usually find that if you make your apologies, it defuses the issue. Can't have it hanging on," said the lawmaker.

From Reuters ● Jan. 12, 2022

Studies by Kross and others show that talking to yourself in the third person takes the edge off stress and defuses it, often quite quickly.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 7, 2021

“We’re going to see Elton John and just have some fun together, no deadlines, no sides to learn. It defuses the permanency of the last day of shooting.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 6, 2020

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

An Israeli army captain finally defused the standoff, but the Palestinians never reached their property and the settlers appeared to suffer no consequences.

From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026

Murray defused the situation adeptly, declaring: "Playing at a Wimbledon final is tough and I certainly wouldn't want to be Prime Minister, it's a tough job."

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

Mr. Homan defused a combustible situation by adjusting the style and substance of immigration enforcement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 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

Instead of defusing the situation or pivoting to a new subject, Kimmel leaned in on Tuesday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026

Earlier this week, Netflix converted its $27.75 a share bid to an all-cash offer in hopes of defusing some of Paramount’s criticisms of its deal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2026

Rather than defusing tensions, the government struck again, hitting Machar with a slew of charges - including treason, the ultimate crime against the state - in September.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2025

But O’Donnell likens the dynamics of the cast at that time to a dysfunctional sisterhood, adding that Morgan defusing the situation with Bensimon felt like someone trying to comfort a sibling.

From Salon ● May 20, 2025

“Everyone has their own reasons for the choices they make,” Patria said, defusing the charged atmosphere, “and we have to respect that.”

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez