de-escalate
dee-ES-kuh-layt
/ˌdiːˈeskəleɪt/
To reduce the intensity, scale, or severity of a conflict or difficult situation.
Implies taking deliberate, step-by-step actions to bring down the temperature of a rapidly worsening crisis.
The story behind the word. The word was coined in the mid-20th century during the Cold War as a reverse-formation of 'escalate' (which itself came from the brand name 'Escalator'—a moving staircase). It was used to describe stepping down from the brink of nuclear war.
Word relationships
- defuse: Defuse means to neutralize a specific explosive threat, while de-escalate refers to a gradual reduction in overall intensity.
- escalate: Escalate means to increase rapidly in intensity or scale, which is the direct opposite.
Commonly confused with
- decrease: Decrease refers to reducing size, quantity, or number, while de-escalate specifically refers to reducing the intensity of conflict or tension.
Word family
- de-escalation (noun): The reduction of intensity or pressure in a conflict.
Collocations
- de-escalate tension
- de-escalate a conflict
- de-escalate the situation
Example sentences
- "The police officers are trained in techniques to de-escalate volatile confrontations." Public Safety
- "A skilled support agent knows how to de-escalate an angry customer's frustration." Customer Service
Memory hook
De-escalate: Step down from the escalator of conflict before you reach the top. Step down the ladder of conflict.
When not to use
Do not use for physical objects moving downward; it is strictly for abstract intensity or conflict.
Fun facts
- The word 'escalator' was originally a trademark of the Otis Elevator Company, but it became so common that they lost the trademark, and linguists used it to invent 'escalate' and 'de-escalate'.
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