defang


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Related to defang: vanishment

de·fang

 (dē-făng′)
tr.v. de·fanged, de·fang·ing, de·fangs
1. To remove the fangs of (a snake, for example).
2. To undermine the strength or power of; make ineffectual: an attempt to defang the opposition.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

defang

(diːˈfæŋ)
vb (tr)
1. to remove the fangs from (an animal or reptile)
2. to weaken or compromise (something)
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

de•fang

(diˈfæŋ)

v.t.
1. to remove the fangs of.
2. to remove the power or threat of; render harmless.
[1950–55]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Verb1.defang - remove the fangs from; "defang the poisonous snake"
remove, take away, withdraw, take - remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract; "remove a threat"; "remove a wrapper"; "Remove the dirty dishes from the table"; "take the gun from your pocket"; "This machine withdraws heat from the environment"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in periodicals archive ?
An unexpected result of the escalating exposes in show biz is the expansion of the antipredator reforms to include nonentertainment spheres, which have their own power-tripping 'inducers and seducers' to expose and defang.
We have no use for Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, and the efforts of NATO countries to defang his military appear to have had some effect.
Addressing a seminar, he said: "Executive attacks Parliament and interfere in its working using the notorious Article 58-2(b) and now 'new tactics' are being used to defang it, and it also intervenes in the working of judiciary while judiciary tries to overcome Parliament and Executive.
Americans have spent billions of dollars and thousands of lives in Iraq since 2003, first to defang the Baathist regime of Saddam Hussein, later to counter a fierce insurgency that brought foreign and al Qaeda fighters into Iraq from throughout the region, and most recently to help Iraqis move beyond the destructive religious, ethnic and tribal divisions that have held them back.
The vision held in Foggy Bottom and ASEAN embassies goes like this: We'll be able to defang the Khmer Rouge with a comprehensive political solution.
Among the issues on which Islamabad desires solid assurances are protection of its legitimate interests in Afghanistan; normalisation of relations with India, including resolution of the Kashmir issue; end to instability in Balochistan; accepting Pakistan as a declared nuclear weapons state and thereby quashing all rumours that the US was secretly working to defang the country.
New York, Oct.6 (ANI): 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.
And four months: That's enough time for Congress to defang the cybercrime law on its own; the Court must have taken notice of the ongoing attempts by at least six legislators in both chambers to file amendatory bills.
Later in the day, BanKo-Perlas used its veteran smarts to defang a young Choco Mucho side, 25-18, 25-20, 25-23, and cap the day of straight-set romps by three of the league's top teams.
Now, opposition parties have drafted a series of amendments which banks fear would defang the law by enabling strategic defaulters to drag out the foreclosures process.
The Arabs (GCC) themselves have been frightened into aligning with the US-Israel Combine (the 'failed' Warsaw Summit) to finance a war which will ostensibly pre-empt, defang and defeat a potentially missile toting nuclear Iran.
The Sugar Barons came from behind to defang the Luisitans in Bacolod last year, but the Tarlac-based squad has fresh blood in former pro Benny Saclot to become even more formidable.