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Definition of deescalate

deescalate

/ˌdiːˈɛskəleɪt/
(UK: de-escalate)
de · es · ca · late
Adjective:deescalatory
•
Past Simple:deescalated
•
Past Participle:deescalated
•
Present Participle:deescalating
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deescalate Lexical Profile

deescalate Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To reduce the intensity, scope, or severity of a conflict, crisis, or tense situation.

Example

"The mediator spoke calmly in an effort to deescalate the dispute between the two departments."

2

To become less intense, severe, or volatile (especially of a confrontation or crisis).

Example

"Following weeks of diplomatic negotiations, tensions along the border finally began to deescalate."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for deescalate
Antonyms
View all antonyms for deescalate

Word Nuance & Usage

Often spelled with a hyphen as "de-escalate" in both American and British English to prevent the double "e" from being misread as a single long vowel.

• Rhymes for deescalate

• Nearby Words

deerfly
deerskin
deerstalker
deescalate
deescalation
deet
def

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-20th century during the Cold War era by adding the privative prefix de- to escalate, which itself was back-formed from escalator in the 1920s.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Deescalate. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/deescalate
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