de-escalate the situation

/diːˈɛskəleɪt ðə sɪtʃuˈeɪʃən/

reduce tension or conflict

The negotiator worked to de-escalate the situation before it turned violent.

The negotiator reduced the tension and prevented the conflict from becoming violent.

formal

To reduce the intensity of a conflict or tense situation to prevent it from worsening.

The police officer used calming techniques to de-escalate the situation with the agitated individual.

The police officer used calming techniques to reduce the tension with the agitated individual.

Often used in conflict resolution, law enforcement, and workplace management.

informal

To calm down a heated discussion or argument to prevent further disagreement.

The manager stepped in to de-escalate the situation between the two employees.

The manager intervened to calm down the argument between the two employees.

Common in workplace and social settings.

Collocations

de-escalate a conflictreduce the intensity of a conflictde-escalate tensionsreduce the level of tension

increase the intensity of a conflict

This phrase is often used in formal contexts to describe conflict resolution strategies.

Use 'de-escalate' in situations where tension or conflict needs to be reduced, not eliminated.

Derived from 'escalate' (to increase in intensity) with the prefix 'de-' (to reverse or undo).

Commonly used in professional settings such as law enforcement, conflict resolution, and workplace management.

de-

reverse or undo

prefix

escalate

increase in intensity

root

the situation

the circumstances or context

phrase

English Dictionary