defuse vs. diffuse
defuse
(to make something less tense, dangerous, or serious)
- They should take immediate steps to defuse the crisis.
- A meeting was held to defuse the situation.
(remove the fuse, deactivate)
- Experts were trying to defuse the bomb.
- The bomb blew up when he was trying to defuse it.
diffuse
(spread over a large area)
- The organization has become large and diffuse.
- The news diffused quickly across the city.