de-escalate

Or de·es·ca·late

[dee-es-kuh-leyt]

verb (used with or without object)

de-escalated, de-escalating 

1. to decrease in intensity, magnitude, etc..

   to de-escalate a war.

de-escalate

/ diːˈɛskəˌleɪt /

verb

1. to reduce the level or intensity of (a crisis, etc)

Other Word Forms

• de-escalation noun
• deescalation noun
• de-escalatory adjective
• deescalatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of de-escalate¹

First recorded in 1960–65; de- + escalate

Related Words

• abate 
• curtail 
• decrease 
• dilute 
• diminish 
• dwindle 
• ease 
• erode 
• impair 
• lighten 
• minimize 
• mitigate 
• narrow 
• shrink 
• slacken 
• weaken