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
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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
Security had to intervene and de-escalate the situation.
—
Roberta F. Rodrigues, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
In the video, police appeared to make no attempt to de-escalate the situation before opening fire within seconds.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Family members and neighbors questioned why police did not do more to de-escalate the situation or use nonlethal weapons.
—John Bacon, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Both nations have huge incentives to work out a deal that could at least de-escalate the trade war.
—Bob Davis, Time, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
Roberta F. Rodrigues, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
In the video, police appeared to make no attempt to de-escalate the situation before opening fire within seconds.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Family members and neighbors questioned why police did not do more to de-escalate the situation or use nonlethal weapons.
—John Bacon, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Both nations have huge incentives to work out a deal that could at least de-escalate the trade war.
—Bob Davis, Time, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de-escalate
Verb
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Answer: Your withdrawals from retirement plans won’t reduce your Social Security directly.—
Liz Weston,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2025
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The trial of estrogen alone also raised safety concerns, though both types of therapy reduced the risk of bone fractures.—
Jean Wactawski-Wende,
The Conversation,
2 May 2025
Verb
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The number of Jesuits globally has steadily decreased since the 1960s, when there were more than 36,000.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
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As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Whereas a decline in home values diminishes the equity investors might hold in their properties, which limits their ability to leverage assets for additional investments or refinancing opportunities.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
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Meanwhile, a more constrained and domestically focused healthcare agenda is likely to diminish trust in federal health agencies, limit access to culturally competent care and produce a loss of global leadership in health innovation.—
Robert Pearl,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But much of that has subsided now; the Steelers, after all, don’t have a second-round pick and trading up could be out of the question as a result.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Apr. 2025
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While immediate inflation concerns have subsided, the current administration's aggressive tariff and immigration policies are creating new economic anxieties that could lead to future instability.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This shift acknowledges cannabis’s medical potential and eases some research restrictions.—
Matt Rozo,
Mercury News,
28 Apr. 2025
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The overall unemployment rate for the working-age population in cities eased slightly to 5.2% in March from a two-year high of 5.4% in February.—
Evelyn Cheng,Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“De-escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de-escalate. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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