de-escalate

verb

de-es·​ca·​late (ˌ)dē-ˈe-skə-ˌlāt 

 nonstandard  -ˈe-skyə-

de-escalated; de-escalating; de-escalates

transitive verb

: limit sense 2b

de-escalate production

tried to de-escalate the tension

intransitive verb

: to decrease in extent, volume, or scope

violence began to de-escalate

de-escalation

(ˌ)dē-ˌe-skə-ˈlā-shən 

 nonstandard  -ˌe-skyə-

noun

de-escalatory

(ˌ)dē-ˈe-skə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē 

 nonstandard  -ˈe-skyə-

adjective

Synonyms

• abate
• decrease
• dent
• deplete
• diminish
• downscale
• downsize
• drop
• dwindle
• ease
• knock down
• lessen
• lower
• reduce

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

One is to ignore it, another is to respond and try to de-escalate. —Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025

Unless the trade war de-escalates in the next few weeks, the firewall will come down, and a recession will ensue. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025

The rally got off to a roaring start on Monday, May 12, with a gain of almost 3.3%, after the U.S. and China agreed to temporarily de-escalate their tariff war in hopes of reaching a broader trade agreement. —Jeff Marks, CNBC, 20 May 2025

Her family alleged the officer failed to take the necessary steps to de-escalate the situation or give any warnings before opening fire. —Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 20 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for de-escalate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

de-escalate

verb

de-es·​ca·​late

(ˈ)dē-ˈes-kə-ˌlāt

: to decrease in extent, volume, or scope

de-escalate the war

de-escalation

(ˌ)dē-ˌes-kə-ˈlā-shən

noun