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
Egypt’s foreign minister held a phone call with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff yesterday, as well as separate calls with Iran’s foreign minister and his regional counterparts to try to de-escalate the ongoing war, the country’s foreign ministry said.
—
Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
Captain Eric Marcotte told CBS News Detroit that officers, along with a crisis clinician, attempted to engage the man and de-escalate the situation, but were unsuccessful.
—Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 3 Apr. 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
Members of the Will County SWAT tactical team and the Will County crisis and hostage negotiation team attempted for hours to de-escalate the situation through negotiations and conversations with the male subject, some of those conversations including his family members, authorities said.
—Alicia Fabbre, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
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Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
Captain Eric Marcotte told CBS News Detroit that officers, along with a crisis clinician, attempted to engage the man and de-escalate the situation, but were unsuccessful.
—Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 3 Apr. 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
Members of the Will County SWAT tactical team and the Will County crisis and hostage negotiation team attempted for hours to de-escalate the situation through negotiations and conversations with the male subject, some of those conversations including his family members, authorities said.
—Alicia Fabbre, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 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 8 Apr. 2026.
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