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
This involves small gestures like humor, affection or acknowledging their feelings to de-escalate tension.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
But when at least one party is willing to wreck things, attempts to de-escalate fail.
—Michael S. Roth, Time, 28 Mar. 2025
The company doesn’t condone drug use at its facilities, but security teams are prepared to de-escalate situations where people might be overwhelmed, Gassien said.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2025
The female, whose age was not released, was able to escape the bedroom while responding officers tried to de-escalate the situation, police said, but Smith turned a gun toward an officer.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
But when at least one party is willing to wreck things, attempts to de-escalate fail.
—Michael S. Roth, Time, 28 Mar. 2025
The company doesn’t condone drug use at its facilities, but security teams are prepared to de-escalate situations where people might be overwhelmed, Gassien said.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2025
The female, whose age was not released, was able to escape the bedroom while responding officers tried to de-escalate the situation, police said, but Smith turned a gun toward an officer.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for de-escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de-escalate
Verb
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Standardization can also reduce due diligence burdens.—
The Sorenson Impact Institute,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Higher temperatures may also reduce the sugar content of maple sap, meaning producers will need to collect and boil more sap to produce the same quantities of syrup.—
Nina Foster,
JSTOR Daily,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In terms of a mechanism, the rejection seems to decrease levels of a neuropeptide in the brain, which increases after mating, leading Heberlein et al.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 Apr. 2025
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Keeping those cuts on the books would decrease revenue by $4.5 trillion from 2025 through 2034, according to estimates from the Tax Foundation.—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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As time went on, her pain diminished, but August decided to go to the emergency room.—
Vanessa Etienne,
People.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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The VMAs, which have seen their social capital diminish over the past few years, delivered a promising ceremony in 2024.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The swelling in the area never subsided, prompting surgery to clean up bone spurs that had traveled dangerously close to his Achilles tendon.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2025
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The rain, expected to begin late Sunday, will subside by Monday afternoon, but below-average temperatures will hang around all week, according to the National Weather Service.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In the Summer of 2021, following a 9-0 loss in a related Supreme Court case (Alston v. NCAA) and a wave of state laws prohibiting the NCAA’s enforcement of its NIL restrictions, the NCAA significantly eased its restrictions regarding athlete NIL activity.—
Joe Sabin,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Mobilizing the tissue throughout the day by rolling your foot on a massage, lacrosse, or tennis ball can also ease discomfort, as can self-massage and ice, Dr. Malek says.—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“De-escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de-escalate. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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