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
Staffers at a youth mental health treatment facility in southern Colorado were too quick to restrain kids — pinning bodies down, holding arms back — rather than de-escalate problems before patients put themselves or others in danger, a disability rights group found.
—
Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025
Officers de-escalated the scene, and there were no arrests made, police told the outlet.
—Daniel S. Levine, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Tensions had simmered over the summer when the two countries agreed to de-escalate.
—Deepa Shivaram, NPR, 25 Oct. 2025
There were 39 times when deholstering a stun gun was able to de-escalate a situation without the device’s deployment.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025
Officers de-escalated the scene, and there were no arrests made, police told the outlet.
—Daniel S. Levine, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Tensions had simmered over the summer when the two countries agreed to de-escalate.
—Deepa Shivaram, NPR, 25 Oct. 2025
There were 39 times when deholstering a stun gun was able to de-escalate a situation without the device’s deployment.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de-escalate
Verb
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Tax rises would likely act as another damper on inflation by reducing consumer demand.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
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Researchers also stressed that the synergistic effect of K+ and C3N4 co-intercalation lowers the energy barrier, reduces the electrostatic interaction, and enhances the kinetics and structural stability.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This can reduce dependence on critical raw materials, lower costs, decrease carbon emissions, and ultimately make sustainable technologies more reliable and accessible in everyday life, as per the release.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
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The trend, Morales said, should come as a giant, blinking warning sign for Republicans, who ran in 2024 on promises to decrease inflation and improve the cost of living for everyday Americans.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Not to diminish, but anybody can create their own AI characters, right?—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
11 Nov. 2025
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The institutions built to prevent such suffering are straining under the weight of geopolitical rivalries, eroding trust, and diminishing political will.—
ARIF HUSAIN,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Conditions may be chaotic right now, Finck said, but fashion purveyors are starting to think about what happens after the market turbulence subsides.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
11 Nov. 2025
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Officials downgraded the alert after fears of more significant waves subsided, but maintained ongoing advisories regarding caution and aftershocks.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Ending the government shutdown would ease the situation for controllers, but the FAA said the flight cuts will remain in place until their safety data improves.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
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This spray aims to prevent breakage and ease tension during the braid takedown process by adding softness so hair can easily slide through knots and detangle much faster.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“De-escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de-escalate. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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