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
At the same time, Trump has escalated in parallel his threat to impose secondary sanctions on Russian energy exports in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to de-escalate attacks on Ukraine.
—
Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 30 July 2025
In May, the Trump administration and China agreed to slash tariffs for 90 days in a push to de-escalate a trade war between the world's two largest economies while the two sides continued to negotiate a long-term agreement.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 29 July 2025
Further attempts by deputies to de-escalate the situation and bring the man out of the house peacefully failed, Ford said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 July 2025
In a bid to de-escalate, the E3 are floating a temporary extension of the sanctions deadline, contingent on Iranian commitments to diplomacy and international nuclear oversight.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
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Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 30 July 2025
In May, the Trump administration and China agreed to slash tariffs for 90 days in a push to de-escalate a trade war between the world's two largest economies while the two sides continued to negotiate a long-term agreement.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 29 July 2025
Further attempts by deputies to de-escalate the situation and bring the man out of the house peacefully failed, Ford said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 July 2025
In a bid to de-escalate, the E3 are floating a temporary extension of the sanctions deadline, contingent on Iranian commitments to diplomacy and international nuclear oversight.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
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 6 Aug. 2025.
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