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
-
Building on its successful rollout in Brazil, Juspay is expanding Click to Pay globally to eliminate manual card entry, which minimizes checkout friction, reduces cart abandonment and boosts conversion rates.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
4 June 2026
-
Maintaining your yard by mowing, removing leaf litter, and trimming vegetation reduces tick habitats.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
This risk decreases as the storm moves away.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
9 June 2026
-
This risk decreases as the storm moves away.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
-
Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Then the climax subsides for a lovely coda of strings, accompanied by a denouement in which the now casually clad, contemporary-looking singer smashes up her play set in the apartment where she’s presumably been brooding over all this stuff.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
22 May 2026
-
In fact, transparency mode eventually turns itself off until the wind subsides.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Once sterile males are prevalent enough, the fly's population declines and then dies out.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
-
If price declines outpace output gains, total revenues in affected industries must fall, reducing the income available to workers and other producers despite higher levels of production.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“De-escalates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de-escalates. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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