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
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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
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Recent Examples of de-escalate
One of the officers involved had specialized training, police said
Phoenix police confirmed that one of the officers on the scene had crisis intervention training, which is designed to help officers slow and de-escalate interactions involving mental or behavioral health crises.
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Miguel Torres, Arizona Republic, 28 Nov. 2024
In conflicts, leaders who listen can de-escalate tension by showing empathy and acknowledging the other person's perspective.
—Edward Deangelis, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Heraclio Mejia, threatened violence against his wife, injured a family member who attempted to de-escalate the situation with a knife, then assaulted a police officer, Joseph said.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
Trump has articulated a desire to negotiate with U.S. adversaries such as China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia to de-escalate tensions and avoid fresh conflicts.
—Dan Caldwell, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for de-escalate 
Miguel Torres, Arizona Republic, 28 Nov. 2024
In conflicts, leaders who listen can de-escalate tension by showing empathy and acknowledging the other person's perspective.
—Edward Deangelis, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Heraclio Mejia, threatened violence against his wife, injured a family member who attempted to de-escalate the situation with a knife, then assaulted a police officer, Joseph said.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
Trump has articulated a desire to negotiate with U.S. adversaries such as China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia to de-escalate tensions and avoid fresh conflicts.
—Dan Caldwell, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for de-escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de-escalate
Verb
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Surgery can benefit from real-time AI explanations and XR visualizations to reduce patient anxiety, while oncology can simplify complex treatment plans for better decision making.Alon Zuckerman, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
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Light pollution significantly reduces visibility of meteors.Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Federal grant aid per student decreased nearly 4% in the same period, which is in line with decreases in enrollment.Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 9 Dec. 2024
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In Denver, stops for speeding decreased by 35% after the change, from more than 8,200 stops in the four months before the policy change to 5,300 in the four months after the change.Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Climate change exacerbates the threats with rising temperatures disrupting migration patterns and diminishing the availability of milkweed, the monarch caterpillar's essential food source.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
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Helping to model that behavior and normalizing outreach for support is a great way to diminish the stigma.Subha Barry, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The tension subsides only in the last iteration, as the bare interval A-E swells and then breaks off.Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
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The foul odors subsided when the facility closed in 2014, but a decade later, the infrastructure sits as a 47-acre blighted industrial property on the edge of the Santa Cruz River.John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
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That could cause trouble for Trump, who faces a potential Catch-22 that will make easing the housing burden difficult to solve.Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
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This external validation can ease the discomfort of inconsistency in relationships and provide further confidence to navigate the disagreement. 3.Mark Travers, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“De-escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de-escalate. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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