Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- v. To remove the fangs of (a snake, for example).
- v. To undermine the strength or power of; make ineffectual: an attempt to defang the opposition.
Wiktionary
- v. transitive To remove the fangs from (something).
- v. figuratively To render harmless.
WordNet 3.0
- v. remove the fangs from
Etymologies
- de- + fang (Wiktionary)
Examples
“During the early meetings, the president's inner circle outlined an elaborate effort to "defang" the opposition.”
The Huffington Post: Barack Obama, Campaign Manager: How The 2008 Playbook Passed Health Care
“The White House has given Israel time to "defang" Hezbollah and is oddly silent as the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon grows.”
Think Progress » Kristol Suggests People of Iran Would Embrace U.S. Attack, Triggering Regime Change
“NEW YORK - A former Pakistan minister has criticized the Gilani Government for agreeing to the terms and conditions attached with the Kerry-Lugar Bill, saying the United States is trying to 'defang' the country and destroy the armed forces.”
Gaea Times (by Simple Thoughts) Breaking News and incisive views 24/7
“US trying to 'defang' Pak army to make it impotent against India: Ex-Pak minister”
Gaea Times (by Simple Thoughts) Breaking News and incisive views 24/7
“US tried to "defang" Russia in the 90-ies, with a result that extremely pro-West and pro-american Russian attitude of early 90-ies morphed into a current deep distrust.”
“But we could also argue that the act of portraying the high priest of the Old Ones in such cutesy-kitschy form represents an attempt to tame, defang, and neuter the shrieking horror of our plight instead of gleefully accepting it.”
Dark Awakenings and Cosmic Horror : The Lovecraft News Network
“If there were any lingering doubts about the need to defang public-sector unions, the latest effort by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees to bully small businesses in Wisconsin ought to put them all to rest " Wisconsin Unions Get Ugly ," Review & Outlook, April 1.”
The Wall Street Journal: Lobbying Yes, Secondary Boycotts and Intimidation, No
“Elizabeth Warren, the Harvard law professor charged with implementing the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, spoke out today against efforts to defang the new agency amid reports that Congressional foes plan to cut its budget by 40 percent.”
Consumer Reports: Elizabeth Warren: Cuts to CFPB budget would be a big mistake
“Other easy fixes included using power meters to find and defang energy-wasting "vampire" appliances, changing a refrigerator door gasket, tuning up your heating system, and fixing leaky ductwork.”
Consumer Reports: 5 Energy-Saving Myths (and what to do instead)
“The ambassadors not only encourage cyclists to have a more constructive attitude to shared space, but also defang the criticism with their proactive approach.”
The Guardian: How to become a cycling 'ambassador' | Matt Seaton
Tweets
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