de-escalate
verb
de-es·ca·late
(ˌ)dē-ˈe-skə-ˌlāt 
nonstandard -ˈe-skyə-
de-escalated; de-escalating; de-escalates
: limit sense 2b
de-escalate production
tried to de-escalate the tension
: to decrease in extent, volume, or scope
violence began to de-escalate
Examples of de-escalate in a Sentence
first, the mediator tried to de-escalate the tension in the room
the fighting de-escalated as the peace talks progressed
Recent Examples on the Web
According to Assistant Sheriff Eric Garcia, deputies arrived and tried to de-escalate the situation.
—
Bri Buckley, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Pope Leo on Friday sent best wishes to the athletes preparing to compete at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and reiterated his call for world leaders to use the Games to promote peace efforts and de-escalate the world’s violent conflicts.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026
Instead of attempting to de-escalate the public outrage, Iranian authorities responded with unprecedented violence.
—Hamid Kashani, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
The negotiations come amid some bipartisan sentiment that Congress should step in to de-escalate tensions over the enforcement operations that have rocked Minnesota and other states.
—Mary Clare Jalonick, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
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Bri Buckley, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Pope Leo on Friday sent best wishes to the athletes preparing to compete at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and reiterated his call for world leaders to use the Games to promote peace efforts and de-escalate the world’s violent conflicts.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026
Instead of attempting to de-escalate the public outrage, Iranian authorities responded with unprecedented violence.
—Hamid Kashani, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
The negotiations come amid some bipartisan sentiment that Congress should step in to de-escalate tensions over the enforcement operations that have rocked Minnesota and other states.
—Mary Clare Jalonick, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
Cite this Entry
“De-escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/de-escalate. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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