# defuse vs diffuse

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### defuse
*verb · IPA /diːˈfjuːz/ · frequency rank #33,609*
To remove the fuse from (e.g. a bomb).

### diffuse
*verb · IPA /dɪˈfjuːz/ · frequency rank #20,095*
To spread (something) over or through as in air, water, or other matter, especially by fluid motion or passive means.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defuse-vs-diffuse