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
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are de-escalatingprogressive
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is de-escalatingprogressive
-
have been de-escalatingperfect progressive
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has been de-escalatingperfect progressive
Past
-
de-escalatedsimple
-
had de-escalatedperfect
-
was de-escalatingprogressive
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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
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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:
AI companies in an effort to de-escalate concerns about the technology.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 11, 2026
A survey by the charity found 73% of youth workers said they informally mentor children at risk, while 65% said they de-escalate conflicts and 55% said they tackle dangerous misinformation.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 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
She hands out camping chairs, decides when it is safe to use the escalator, and de-escalates spats between people squabbling over a patch of floor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
In time, Morgan Stanley expects the rate differentials to reassert themselves, once the conflict de-escalates.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 30, 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
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
It’s part of a pattern, he said, of federal officers jumping straight to use of force in situations that could have been de-escalated but instead create danger for both agents and their targets.
From Salon ● Feb. 2, 2026
These concessions de-escalated the war and saved tens of thousands of lives.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 14, 2026
The release of novelist Boualem Sansal has de-escalated a crisis in relations between France and its former colony Algeria, but much work remains to be done to normalise ties deeply scarred by history.
From Barron's ● Nov. 13, 2025
On the flip side, she said the information she had gathered has also "de-escalated" some calls to more appropriate options in the community.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2025
“But the de-escalating rhetoric is unlikely to move the needle for inter-Korean relations,” said Hwang.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 7, 2026
It has sent a special envoy and pledged to play a "constructive role in de-escalating tensions".
From Barron's ● Apr. 1, 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
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.
