de-escalate
verb
de-es·ca·late
(ˌ)dē-ˈe-skə-ˌlāt 
nonstandard -ˈe-skyə-
de-escalated; de-escalating; de-escalates
: limit sense 2b
de-escalate production
tried to de-escalate the tension
: to decrease in extent, volume, or scope
violence began to de-escalate
Examples of de-escalate in a Sentence
first, the mediator tried to de-escalate the tension in the room
the fighting de-escalated as the peace talks progressed
Recent Examples on the Web
Mattison has had a dozen or so big runs in camp, but his first three carries Wednesday produced very little.
▪ 10:05 update from 11 on 11 drills: Jack Jones got in Hayden Rucci’s face during an intense moment that quickly de-escalated... Zach Wilson underthrew Waddle...
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
Officers de-escalated the situation and got him safely to the ground, Caylor said.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Turck attempted to step in and de-escalate the situation, but the man fatally shot Turck before shooting and killing himself, according to WTVR, citing officials with the Richmond Police Department.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
South Korea's presidential office said Lee made the decision given the absence of recent major provocations by North Korea and aimed to de-escalate military confrontation and open the door to rebuilding mutual trust.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
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Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
Officers de-escalated the situation and got him safely to the ground, Caylor said.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Turck attempted to step in and de-escalate the situation, but the man fatally shot Turck before shooting and killing himself, according to WTVR, citing officials with the Richmond Police Department.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
South Korea's presidential office said Lee made the decision given the absence of recent major provocations by North Korea and aimed to de-escalate military confrontation and open the door to rebuilding mutual trust.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
Cite this Entry
“De-escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/de-escalate. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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