de-escalateverb [ I or T ]
uk/ˌdiːˈes.kə.leɪt/us/ˌdiːˈes.kə.leɪt/to (cause to) become less dangerous or difficult:
The government has taken these measures in an attempt to de-escalate the conflict.
There are signs that the confrontation is beginning to de-escalate.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Becoming and making less strong
- abate
- adulterate
- attenuate
- attrition
- blow over
- blunt
- deflate
- dial
- dim
- emasculate
- jelly
- keep sb down
- knock/take the stuffing out of sb/sth idiom
- muffle
- neutralize
- pine
- sag
- sap
- shake
- wither on the vine idiom
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