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
The lawsuit alleges that the dispute escalated over a period of time that would have allowed security to reasonably notice the situation and intervene, but the bar failed to de-escalate, separate the people involved in the dispute or remove them from the bar.
—
Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Michael Bradley, who leads the Chiefs of Police Association, looks at jail diversion programs as an effective collaboration between law enforcement and behavioral health providers that helps de-escalate mental health crises through specialized training and clinical partnerships.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
Deputies kept their distance from Sugich, the office said, and attempted to de-escalate the situation.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Saudi Arabia is slated to host a meeting of foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim-majority countries to discuss finding a way to de-escalate the war, according to reporting from Al Jazeera.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
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Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Michael Bradley, who leads the Chiefs of Police Association, looks at jail diversion programs as an effective collaboration between law enforcement and behavioral health providers that helps de-escalate mental health crises through specialized training and clinical partnerships.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
Deputies kept their distance from Sugich, the office said, and attempted to de-escalate the situation.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Saudi Arabia is slated to host a meeting of foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim-majority countries to discuss finding a way to de-escalate the war, according to reporting from Al Jazeera.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
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 26 Mar. 2026.
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