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
China may need to implement a more proactive fiscal policy than its budget, unveiled last week, if Middle East tensions fail to de-escalate in the second quarter, Zhang said.
—
Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Mar. 2026
As officers worked to de-escalate the situation, a man reportedly approached the officers, pointed at two Black men and a black Chevy Tahoe parked on the sidewalk and claimed that the men had a gun, according to Prescott.
—Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
In recent days, Saudi officials have deployed their diplomatic backchannel to Iran with greater urgency to de-escalate tensions and prevent the conflict from worsening, the officials said, asking not to be named discussing private and sensitive conversations.
—Donato Paolo Mancini, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026
But if the conflict shows no sign of de-escalating before that point, giving security and confidence to F1 and the FIA that the events could go ahead without any risks, then the only course of action would be to cancel both races.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
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Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Mar. 2026
As officers worked to de-escalate the situation, a man reportedly approached the officers, pointed at two Black men and a black Chevy Tahoe parked on the sidewalk and claimed that the men had a gun, according to Prescott.
—Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
In recent days, Saudi officials have deployed their diplomatic backchannel to Iran with greater urgency to de-escalate tensions and prevent the conflict from worsening, the officials said, asking not to be named discussing private and sensitive conversations.
—Donato Paolo Mancini, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026
But if the conflict shows no sign of de-escalating before that point, giving security and confidence to F1 and the FIA that the events could go ahead without any risks, then the only course of action would be to cancel both races.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 6 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 11 Mar. 2026.
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