Pronunciation contrast
defuse vs diffuse
Meaning, pronunciation, and examples
Defuse means to remove a fuse or make danger and tension less severe. Diffuse as a verb means to spread something in many directions.
American English
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Each term has female and male playback at natural speed. Listen without looking, then compare the recordings with the IPA.
Word 1
defuse
verb
To remove a fuse or make a dangerous or tense situation less severe.
US pronunciation
/ˌdiːˈfjuːz/
UK IPA
/ˌdiːˈfjuːz/
Hear two natural voices
Word 2
diffuse
verb
To spread or cause something to spread widely or in many directions.
US pronunciation
/dɪˈfjuːz/
UK IPA
/dɪˈfjuːz/
Hear two natural voices
Sound contrast
Hear dee- before dih-
The verb defuse commonly starts with the long EE vowel, while the verb diffuse starts with short “ih.” Some speakers reduce the first vowel of defuse, and the adjective diffuse ends with /s/, so grammatical role and sentence meaning remain necessary.
Direct answer
What is the difference?
Use defuse when preventing an explosion or calming a dangerous situation. Use diffuse when light, gas, information, or another substance spreads or is distributed widely. In the verb pronunciations, both end in FYOOZ; a careful defuse begins with “dee,” while diffuse begins with “dih.”
Listen in context
6 example sentences
Context makes meaning, grammar, and natural rhythm easier to understand. Every sentence has its own playback.
Examples with
defuse
- The technician worked carefully to defuse the device.
- A calm explanation helped defuse the argument.
- Both sides met privately to defuse the crisis.
Examples with
diffuse
- The screen helps diffuse the light across the room.
- Oxygen will diffuse through the thin membrane.
- The organization hopes to diffuse practical knowledge widely.
Try it yourself
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These sounds can overlap in natural speech, so a transcript cannot prove that one pronunciation is right or wrong. Use it as one clue alongside context.