The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word DEFUSE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
D
E
F
U
S
E
More clues leading to the result DEFUSE
- US agent coming over to take drugs and render harmless
- Took in fare rises on buses, losing exterior calm
- Reduce tension in defeat: a tyrant’s leadership rejected across America
- Endlessly rebel against exploitation — calm down!
- Fed up with American English? Calm down!
- Reduce tension in exercise after low marks
- Law officer reversed deployment to ease tension
- . Agent backing operation to reduce tension
- Feed us nuts and reduce the danger
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Reduce tension" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case reduce tension = defuse.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does DEFUSE mean?
DEFUSE verb- To remove the fuse from (a bomb, etc.).
- To make less dangerous, tense, or hostile.
- To disorder; to make shapeless.