de-escalation
Americannoun
-
de-escalations
plural
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Explanation
When a potentially violent situation becomes less intense, reducing the likelihood of a conflict, that's de-escalation. Instead of another loud argument with your brother, you might aim for de-escalation. De-escalation is a technique that's used by a wide variety of people, from police officers to company managers to elementary school teachers to leaders of countries. Turning down the intensity of a disagreement, ideally getting people to discuss their issues instead of shoving each other (or starting a war) is what de-escalation is all about. The word comes from the prefix de-, "the opposite of," and escalate, or "raise," from a Latin root meaning "to climb."
Vocabulary lists containing de-escalation
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The Sheriff’s Department has said that it cited Barraza for failing to deploy de-escalation tactics before using force and that it disciplined a sergeant for failures during the assessment after the incident.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
It also noted she failed to use any de-escalation techniques.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
“Markets are increasingly pricing gradual de-escalation, although geopolitical developments remain fluid and vulnerable to renewed tensions,” analysts at brokerage Kotak Neo say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Oxford added it’s still possible for an off-ramp and de-escalation of trade tensions ahead of the Sept. 8 deadline Canada set to impose levies on U.S. products.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
Syria said it held talks with Israel in Jordan on Sunday on de-escalation after recent Israeli strikes, and on keeping the country out of tensions between Israel and Turkey, an ally of Damascus.
From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026
The comments were seen as a de-escalations of tensions that have pushed oil prices to their highest level in three months on the possibility of U.S. strikes against Iran.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 15, 2026
Lack of staffing and budget eliminates valuable patrols in known areas that prevent crime, and unfortunately eliminates time for community engagement that provides for insight and de-escalations.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 29, 2021
"What are you prepared to do in response to our de-escalations?" asked Harriman.
From Time Magazine Archive
The scholars recommended continued prosecution of the war, though without escalation and possibly with experimental de-escalations to win broader support for it at home.
From Time Magazine Archive
There are essentially two approaches open to Nixon that could lead to a measurable disengagement from Viet Nam: a negotiated solution, or a seesaw of unilateral de-escalations, with each side presumably matching the other's withdrawals.
From Time Magazine Archive
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
