de-escalate
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
de-escalatesimple
-
de-escalatessimple
-
have de-escalatedperfect
-
has de-escalatedperfect
-
am de-escalatingprogressive
-
are de-escalatingprogressive
-
is de-escalatingprogressive
-
have been de-escalatingperfect progressive
-
has been de-escalatingperfect progressive
Past
-
de-escalatedsimple
-
had de-escalatedperfect
-
was de-escalatingprogressive
-
were de-escalatingprogressive
-
had been de-escalatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of de-escalate
Explanation
When something de-escalates, it's turned down a notch, becoming quieter or calmer. If you want to de-escalate an argument between siblings you're babysitting, you might try giving them both a popsicle. In politics, de-escalating a situation can be a matter of life and death, as when mediators help de-escalate a conflict in order to avoid a war between two countries or groups. Whenever someone de-escalates an argument, they take something with potential to turn ugly or even violent and tone things down so that the issues can be calmly discussed. Police officers, diplomats, and elementary school teachers all need to learn to de-escalate intense situations.
Vocabulary lists containing de-escalate
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for March 29–April 4, 2026
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Book Won't Burn
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
(S)Kin
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Saudi Arabia briefly denied the US access to Saudi airspace earlier in the war, and has pushed the US and Iran to de-escalate.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
AI companies in an effort to de-escalate concerns about the technology.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 11, 2026
The diplomat added that "communications channels created to de-escalate any incidents are in place" after the strikes.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
“Our officers did the best they could to de-escalate that situation ... from occurring into something fatal.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026
“Both sides need a narrative that allows them to de-escalate without looking as if they capitulated.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026
“Assuming the war de-escalates in coming weeks and months, the U.S. economy should enjoy a better year of job growth in 2026 than 2025,” said Bill Adams, chief economist at Fifth Third Commercial Bank.
From MarketWatch ● May 7, 2026
The guidance assumes that the conflict in the Middle East de-escalates over the near-term and that SAP will close its deal for Reltio.
From Barron's ● Apr. 23, 2026
If the situation de-escalates relatively quickly, the impact on Asia should be fairly limited but individual governments are nevertheless taking pre-emptive measures.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026
A security worker de-escalates the situation, and a social worker helps them take some deep breaths.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2023
“It’s hard to see how the situation de-escalates from here,” wrote Madiha Afzal, a fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, in a text message.
From New York Times ● May 10, 2023
The two nations have de-escalated from a tit-for-tat trade war last year that heightened tensions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
Though surprised, the officer seated at the wheel de-escalated the situation and helped the young man find his family, the father wrote to Movius.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026
I’ve known many police officers in my long career covering crime who could have de-escalated that event without bloodshed.
From Salon ● Jan. 9, 2026
A ceasefire has de-escalated the conflict with the Houthis in recent years and led to a freezing of the front lines.
From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2026
For now, both countries have de-escalated tensions but the truce remains shaky.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2025
Talks between Cuba and the United States on de-escalating tensions are still at a "very preliminary" stage, Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal told AFP on Tuesday.
From Barron's ● Apr. 7, 2026
President Abdel-Fattah Sissi of Egypt also said Monday that his country had delivered “clear messages” to Iran about de-escalating the conflict.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 23, 2026
Oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel on Monday, reaching levels not seen since 2022, as the conflict showed no signs of de-escalating, adding to growing concerns of a lasting supply shock.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 9, 2026
This is attributed to a number of factors including major oil producers agreeing to keep output unchanged and signs of de-escalating tensions between the US and Iran.
From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2026
“What’s good to see is that it is de-escalating and the right people are finally talking to each other, be it the president, the governor, the mayor,” Niccol said in an interview.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 29, 2026
Definitions 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.
