DE-ESCALATING Synonyms: 121 Similar and Opposite Words

de-escalating

verb

present participle of de-escalate

as in reducing

to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent first, the mediator tried to de-escalate the tension in the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in decreasing

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the fighting de-escalated as the peace talks progressed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of de-escalating Still, there's a difference between de-escalating and going out of your way to explain away the actions of the player who just blasted one of your own. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026 On Friday, attacks between the United States and Iran widened as the war showed no signs of de-escalating. — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 17 July 2026 Maybe a mental-health professional might have lowered the danger level, de-escalating the situation. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026 Bouchard credits the drones for de-escalating the situation. — Heath Kalb, CBS News, 9 May 2026 Takaichi said the two leaders agreed on the importance of quickly de-escalating the conflict and to secure the safety of the vital waterway and the stable supply of goods. — ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026 But if the conflict shows no sign of de-escalating before that point, giving security and confidence to F1 and the FIA that the events could go ahead without any risks, then the only course of action would be to cancel both races. — Luke Smith, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026 That’s because Putin is focused on Ukraine, and Norway is skilled in de-escalating tense standoffs. — Tom Yulsman, Time, 23 Feb. 2026 Lyons credited Homan with de-escalating the situation. — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for de-escalating

Verb

Drought conditions are also fueling devastating, costly wildfires and reducing crop yields, threatening to push up food prices.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Reportedly this approach could boost reliability by reducing the number of mechanical components.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of reducing

Verb

The researchers’ models suggest that areas near the escarpment could have lost as much as 8 kilometers of rock, with erosion decreasing farther away from the ancient cliff.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
How Perimenopause Affects Bones and Muscle Perimenopause typically begins in a woman’s late 40s or early 50s and lasts about seven years, marked by decreasing estrogen, according to PennState Health.

— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of decreasing

Verb

Several Gulf countries have already announced plans to expand or build new pipeline capacity to evade the Strait of Hormuz, likely diminishing its importance as a chokepoint within several years.

— Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
But each step up the sanctions ladder brings greater diplomatic costs — and diminishing certainty that additional economic damage will translate into political concessions.

— Magdalena Del Valle, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of diminishing

Verb

Key Background The crisis appeared to be subsiding somewhat Friday as Spanish authorities said a majority of the 60,000 people who crossed into Ceuta from Morocco over the past several days had returned home.

— Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
India, one of the world's most prolific IPO markets, was gearing up for issues worth $50 billion as tension in the Middle East were subsiding.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 9 July 2026

Definition of subsiding

Verb

The Swift Observatory has been observing the cosmos for more than two-decades, but its rapidly declining orbit has put it in jeopardy of reentering Earth's atmosphere and burning up.

— Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
In addition, authorities criticized John and Patsy for declining formal police interviews for several months.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of declining

Verb

Why recruiting became political The Pentagon is emerging from the yearslong recruiting slump that followed the COVID-19 pandemic, easing one of the military's most persistent political headaches that drew bipartisan anxiety on Capitol Hill.

— Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Meanwhile, Clark and Floyd strike up a deep friendship, easing their suburban loneliness.

— Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of easing

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de-escalates

de-escalating

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“De-escalating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de-escalating. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of de-escalating

verb

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