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
Relevance
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
In response, city leaders introduced a downtown safety initiative that includes a youth curfew, increased patrols from Cincinnati Police, and the use of community volunteers and violence interrupters to de-escalate conflicts.
—
Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
ChatGPT’s initial replies appeared to encourage his delusions and anger before its safety filters eventually activated and attempted to de-escalate the situation, urging him to seek help.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025
Step away and de-escalate if possible.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Nolan is clearly not an expert criminal, and Tully’s team would do better to focus on de-escalating the situation.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
ChatGPT’s initial replies appeared to encourage his delusions and anger before its safety filters eventually activated and attempted to de-escalate the situation, urging him to seek help.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025
Step away and de-escalate if possible.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Nolan is clearly not an expert criminal, and Tully’s team would do better to focus on de-escalating the situation.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de-escalate
Verb
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As part of a plea agreement, the murder charge was reduced to involuntary manslaughter, and the remaining charges were dismissed.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
22 Oct. 2025
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Additional heavy rainfall is possible beyond Saturday; however, uncertainty in Melissa's track and forward speed reduces confidence in exact totals.—
MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT,
Miami Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As the Universe continues to expand, dark energy’s relative contributions to the energy density will rise, while the remaining components will continue to decrease in relative importance.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
24 Oct. 2025
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See what prices have increased and decreased.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Although there may be some lingering tension between Turning Point and the Wisconsin GOP, resistance to the group is diminishing, party officials said.—
Steven Martinez,
jsonline.com,
21 Oct. 2025
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Coleman also pushed back against the notion that enthusiasm for AI diminishes the value of human work.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Yet two years passed before the painting was discovered, and only then because Peruggia – who had kept the painting hidden in his Paris apartment all of that time, waiting for the furor over the theft to subside – attempted to sell it to an Italian art dealer.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
20 Oct. 2025
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After a moment, my sobs subsided.—
Sam Lipsyte,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Liverpool eased their Champions League jitters by thrashing Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday; now for the Premier League.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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But for consumers, higher wages on paper do not appear to have eased the sting of rising prices, according to several recent surveys.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“De-escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de-escalate. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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