1·A spokesman said this firm action had defused a very nasty situation.
一位发言人说,这次果断的行动已经缓解了僵局。
—— 《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》
2·But rather than volubly objecting to the plan, which is backed by a vocal emigre lobby in Germany, Mr Tusk blandly defused the row.
但是,塔斯克先生并没有趾高气昂地反对这个由一个流亡到德国的游说团支持的计划,他很殷勤地缓解了对此问题的争议。