SINCE 1828

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de-escalate

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verb de-es·ca·late \ (ˌ)dē-ˈes-kə-ˌlāt , nonstandard -kyə- \

Definition of de-escalate

transitive verb

:limit 2b

de-escalate production

intransitive verb

:to decrease in extent, volume, or scope

violence began to de-escalate

tried to de-escalate the tension

—

de-escalation

play \(ˌ)dē-ˌes-kə-ˈlā-shən, nonstandard -kyə-\ noun

—

de-escalatory

play \(ˌ)dē-ˈes-kə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē, nonstandard -kyə-\ adjective

See de-escalate defined for kids

First Known Use of de-escalate

1964

de-escalate Synonyms

Synonyms

abate, de-escalate, dent, deplete, diminish, downscale, downsize, drop, dwindle, ease, knock down, lessen, lower, reduce

Antonyms

aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, raise

Related Words

compress, condense, constrict, contract; abbreviate, abridge, clip, crop, curtail, cut, cut back, cut down, dock, nick, pare, prune, retrench, shorten, slash, trim, truncate, whittle; deflate, shrink; minimize; moderate, modify, modulate, qualify

Near Antonyms

blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, swell; elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract; add (to), complement, supplement; enhance, heighten, intensify; redouble

Learn More about de-escalate

See words that rhyme with de-escalate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for de-escalate

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de-escalate

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Deesis

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