de-escalation
Americannoun
plural
de-escalationsExplanation
When a potentially violent situation becomes less intense, reducing the likelihood of a conflict, that's de-escalation. Instead of another loud argument with your brother, you might aim for de-escalation. De-escalation is a technique that's used by a wide variety of people, from police officers to company managers to elementary school teachers to leaders of countries. Turning down the intensity of a disagreement, ideally getting people to discuss their issues instead of shoving each other (or starting a war) is what de-escalation is all about. The word comes from the prefix de-, "the opposite of," and escalate, or "raise," from a Latin root meaning "to climb."
Vocabulary lists containing de-escalation
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 way to deal with inflation was de-escalation, he said.
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
Oil prices retreated sharply, with traders betting that Iran’s latest statement on the strait signaled a significant de-escalation in the conflict.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
“Whether that marks the start of a rebalancing, or early anticipation of de-escalation, will be the key question for the sector in the weeks ahead,” said Kenneth Lamont, a principal at Morningstar.
From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026
The IEA notes this may be “too optimistic” given uncertainty over the possibility of de-escalation.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
In an op-ed for the Guardian last week, Starmer wrote: “Britain’s national interest is best served by de-escalation, diplomacy, and the swift reopening of the strait of Hormuz.”
From Slate • Apr. 13, 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.
