1
as in reduces
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 decreases
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-escalates
If the war de-escalates meaningfully, markets can begin rotating away from pure geopolitical hedges and back toward businesses with durable growth just as Alphabet’s transformation into an AI-first and services platform continues to accelerate.
—
Tony Zhang, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
Tony Zhang, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de-escalates
Verb
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The future demands a neutral, interoperable and intelligent global trade infrastructure that reduces friction, expands inclusion and restores trust across borders.—
Meelan Gupta,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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The firm argued that eliminating cooling equipment reduces both upfront costs and operational complexity.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
Verb
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As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
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Forecast confidence decreases somewhat heading into the weekend, but an unsettled pattern appears likely to continue.—
Lauren Bostwick,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Verb
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An August poll found that a majority of them oppose it, and some voters have expressed concern that the new map also diminishes their representation as lawmakers would have to cover a wider, more varied geography.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
11 Dec. 2025
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Emphasizing the environmental benefits of reuse, given that the eco-lever drastically diminishes carbon emissions compared to producing new garments, SMART said that textiles should be clearly distinguished as valuable goods, not as waste streams.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
2 Dec. 2025
Verb
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If extra power is required, the GR 2 can draw from its internal battery before automatically reverting to external power once the demand subsides.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2026
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The chafing is bad enough, but even worse, after the initial irritation subsides, my legs are embarrassingly left with dark spots and hyperpigmentation.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
Verb
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That’s down to the 3D model producing a little less warming for a brighter Sun, the expectation that CO2 declines more slowly over time, and a slight expansion of the CO2 range believed to be survivable by plants.—
Scott K. Johnson,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
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Scientists found that a protein called NOX4 naturally declines with age and inactivity.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“De-escalates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de-escalates. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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