de-escalate
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
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.
The growing implementation of the Grappler comes at a time when funding to find ways to de-escalate chases is under consideration.
From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026
They added "we train our models to recognize distress, de-escalate conversations, and guide users toward real-world support."
From BBC • May 2, 2026
The major U.S. stock-market indexes have moved higher for three consecutive weeks on the news that the U.S. and Iran have been working together to de-escalate the conflict in the Middle East.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 19, 2026
“We should de-escalate the rhetoric and tactics,” he wrote.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
“While we have that debate, we should de-escalate the rhetoric and tactics and try to have fewer explosions in fewer homes, figuratively and literally.”
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 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.
