1
as in reducing
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 decreasing
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-escalating
Bouchard credits the drones for de-escalating the situation.
—
Heath Kalb, CBS News, 9 May 2026
Takaichi said the two leaders agreed on the importance of quickly de-escalating the conflict and to secure the safety of the vital waterway and the stable supply of goods.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
But if the conflict shows no sign of de-escalating before that point, giving security and confidence to F1 and the FIA that the events could go ahead without any risks, then the only course of action would be to cancel both races.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
That’s because Putin is focused on Ukraine, and Norway is skilled in de-escalating tense standoffs.
—Tom Yulsman, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
Lyons credited Homan with de-escalating the situation.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
The agent who appeared to be de-escalating a separate agent turns attention to the agent deploying pepper spray and waves him down.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Loon said de-escalating tensions is in the best interest of Minnesota’s business community.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 23 Jan. 2026
Under intense military pressure, the STC’s leadership agreed to hold talks in Riyadh aimed at de-escalating the conflict.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Heath Kalb, CBS News, 9 May 2026
Takaichi said the two leaders agreed on the importance of quickly de-escalating the conflict and to secure the safety of the vital waterway and the stable supply of goods.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
But if the conflict shows no sign of de-escalating before that point, giving security and confidence to F1 and the FIA that the events could go ahead without any risks, then the only course of action would be to cancel both races.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
That’s because Putin is focused on Ukraine, and Norway is skilled in de-escalating tense standoffs.
—Tom Yulsman, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
Lyons credited Homan with de-escalating the situation.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
The agent who appeared to be de-escalating a separate agent turns attention to the agent deploying pepper spray and waves him down.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Loon said de-escalating tensions is in the best interest of Minnesota’s business community.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 23 Jan. 2026
Under intense military pressure, the STC’s leadership agreed to hold talks in Riyadh aimed at de-escalating the conflict.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de-escalating
Verb
-
But after years of record investment by the state in such wildfire risk mitigation, two key money sources are drying up, potentially reducing the state’s annual budget for vegetation removal by hundreds of millions of dollars.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
Although reducing carbon pollution, which stays in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, is key to tackling the climate crisis, slashing methane has been seen as something of a low-hanging fruit.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
His attorney, Doug Kelley, released a statement touting successes during O'Hara's tenure, including diversifying and increasing the department's ranks, the decreasing violent crime rate and mitigating violent clashes during the immigration crackdown.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
-
Some residents have raised concerns about how cutting property taxes would impact the city’s financial health by decreasing revenue.—
Tess Riski
May 28,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Trump has also proposed slashing nearly $800 million from the park system’s roughly $3-billion operating budget — potentially diminishing the ability to keep facilities clean and control crowds.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
The singer-songwriter’s forthright and wistful new record, Philadelphia’s Been Good to Me, is an exercise in revisitation that yields expanding, not diminishing, returns.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Breezy winds return on Tuesday after subsiding somewhat on Monday.—
Rachael Jay,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
-
But there were no signs that the conflict was subsiding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Gasoline inventories continue to fall sharply, declining last week to the lowest May level since 2014.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
-
Nor can conversation alone prepare students for a world shaped by AI, polarization and declining trust in institutions.—
Rajiv Vinnakota,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria — like South Africa — had been easing monetary policy before the conflict broke out, but chose to hold their lending rates steady in recent weeks.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
29 May 2026
-
The Supreme Court appears to be easing the way for people and companies to make claims over the confiscation of Cuban property when Fidel Castro seized power in 1959.—
Robert W. Wood,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“De-escalating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de-escalating. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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