1
as in reduced
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
first, the mediator tried to de-escalate the tension in the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decreased
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-escalated
Though surprised, the officer seated at the wheel de-escalated the situation and helped the young man find his family, the father wrote to Movius.
—
Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
The situation de-escalated after the USS McCaul responded to the scene and escorted the tanker with air support.
—Margaret Brennan, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Trump’s tactic risks reopening fraught geopolitical wounds with Beijing, following its bruising trade war with Washington that de-escalated late last year.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Officers de-escalated the scene, and there were no arrests made, police told the outlet.
—Daniel S. Levine, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Officers de-escalated the situation and arrested 22-year-old Antonio Mellon.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Officers de-escalated the situation and got him safely to the ground, Caylor said.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
The situation de-escalated after the USS McCaul responded to the scene and escorted the tanker with air support.
—Margaret Brennan, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Trump’s tactic risks reopening fraught geopolitical wounds with Beijing, following its bruising trade war with Washington that de-escalated late last year.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Officers de-escalated the scene, and there were no arrests made, police told the outlet.
—Daniel S. Levine, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Officers de-escalated the situation and arrested 22-year-old Antonio Mellon.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Officers de-escalated the situation and got him safely to the ground, Caylor said.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de-escalated
Verb
-
Fires in the area and a federal immigration crackdown last year have reduced tourism, leaving his 12 buses carrying fewer passengers.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
-
That reduced alcohol spending is not due to price changes, but because consumption is falling, the report said.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Drone strikes have decreased by 83%.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Though on Saturday, MDFR said smoke in the area had greatly decreased compared to Thursday and Friday.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The settling of chairs subsided, people shifted into comfortable postures, some laid out on the carpet.—
Sofia Zarran,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
-
And, unlike longer alternatives like 2-year or 5-year CD options, savers will maintain some flexibility to pivot here in 2027 after the current market volatility may have subsided.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Liverpool’s transition threat has diminished.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Extensive research shows that insufficient sleep is associated with impaired cognitive function, chronic health problems, diminished productivity and an increase in traffic accidents, just to name a few.—
Stephen Neely,
The Conversation,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Apartment buildings were felled by air strikes, and smoke billowed from the blasts; the buzz of Israeli drones filled the air.—
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Too many people, particularly those in my age group, have been felled by a cold that morphed into pneumonia, or a UTI that landed them in the hospital, or a simple stumble on a floor mat that resulted in surgery and months of physical therapy.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The survey showed permanent staff appointments continued to fall in February, but the pace of decline was the slowest since March 2023, and wage pressures eased as the pool of job-seekers continues to rise.—
Irina Anghel,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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The Treasury Department eased curbs late Thursday on India’s ability to buy Russian oil.—
Bloomberg Wire,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“De-escalated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de-escalated. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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