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
As the back-and-forth between Israel and Iran picks up in its intensity, with no end in sight, is there any way to de-escalate tensions in the Mideast before the situation worsens?
—
/ Cbs News, CBS News, 15 June 2025
World leaders made urgent calls to de-escalate and avoid all-out war.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
The talks, while cordial, still have not permanently de-escalated the trade war, with 30% and 10% baseline tariffs remaining on the American and Chinese sides, respectively.
—Earl Carr, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
While the official Gulf response was to de-escalate, many people in the region rejoiced given Iran’s role in propping up proxies that killed thousands and destabilized Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
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/ Cbs News, CBS News, 15 June 2025
World leaders made urgent calls to de-escalate and avoid all-out war.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
The talks, while cordial, still have not permanently de-escalated the trade war, with 30% and 10% baseline tariffs remaining on the American and Chinese sides, respectively.
—Earl Carr, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
While the official Gulf response was to de-escalate, many people in the region rejoiced given Iran’s role in propping up proxies that killed thousands and destabilized Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 13 June 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 18 Jun. 2025.
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