Standard Lemma guide

defang

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /diːˈfæŋ/
  • rhymes with -æŋ

1

verb

Meaning 1

To remove the fangs from (something).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Qualifier: literal

Examples

  • The snake was defanged.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To render (something) harmless.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

remove the fangs from

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • defang the poisonous snake

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: remove, take, take away, withdraw

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h1 Proto-Indo-European *déh1 Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē-der. English de- English fang English defang From de- + fang.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 去爪 (qùzhuǎ) — render harmless
  • French: dégriffer — render harmless
  • German: entkrallen — render harmless
  • Greek: ξεδοντιάζω (xedontiázo) — render harmless
  • Lithuanian: nukenksminti — render harmless
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: avklora — render harmless
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: ta brodden av — render harmless