1
as in to reduce
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
first, the mediator tried to de-escalate the tension in the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to decrease
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
the fighting de-escalated as the peace talks progressed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of de-escalate
Several people were hit with the spray including Kim, who was seen trying to de-escalate the situation.
—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Officers rushed the process, issued conflicting demands, failed to de-escalate and treated Lewis’ non-threatening movement toward compliance as justification for deadly force — all actions contrary to the reform that was supposed to be underway in the department, the lawsuit alleges.
—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
25 May 2026
Police began trying to de-escalate the situation through negotiation, said Miami Police spokesman Orlando Rodriguez.
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Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
The Western sources said that by the end of March, diplomatic contacts and the threat by Saudi Arabia to retaliate further led to an understanding to de-escalate, Reuters reported.
—
Sarah Tamimi,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Officers rushed the process, issued conflicting demands, failed to de-escalate and treated Lewis’ non-threatening movement toward compliance as justification for deadly force — all actions contrary to the reform that was supposed to be underway in the department, the lawsuit alleges.
—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
25 May 2026
Police began trying to de-escalate the situation through negotiation, said Miami Police spokesman Orlando Rodriguez.
—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
The Western sources said that by the end of March, diplomatic contacts and the threat by Saudi Arabia to retaliate further led to an understanding to de-escalate, Reuters reported.
—
Sarah Tamimi,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de-escalate
Verb
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New flyover ramps connecting to I-95 would also be built, while sound barriers would be installed along both sides of the corridor to help reduce traffic noise for nearby residents.
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The rich treatment balances strengthening plant proteins with nourishing rosehip and sweet almond oils to reduce breakage and replenish moisture.
Verb
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This significantly minimizes cybersecurity risks by decreasing the number of outside players that may have access to the data through cloud or hardware infrastructure.
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As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
Verb
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The weight that was added to the structure over its lifetime diminished the building’s margins against failure, the report said.
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Louden points out that sometimes an English word strengthens and diversifies the Pennsylvania Dutch lexicon rather than diminishes it.
Verb
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Early on, Jonah couldn't be indoors during rumbling Florida thunderstorms because the noise reminded Jonah of the collapse, so father and son would take long drives until the storm subsided.
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Spoofing has subsided noticeably in recent days.
Verb
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In the bond market, Treasury yields eased with oil prices.
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May said the venue change helped ease some of the tension.
Cite this Entry
“De-escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de-escalate. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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