de-escalate a crisis.    From Wordnet, Princeton University. 

Verb (used with object), verb (used without object), : to de-escalate a war.    From Dictionary.com. 

But having said that, it takes two to de-escalate.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Jun 2, 2002] Reference

What we want do is really de-escalate the situation.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Aug 1, 2006] Reference

That created an incentive to de-escalate the arms race.    From Wordnik.com.  [Scott McLemee: Boom or Bust?] Reference

The military's job here is of course to de-escalate the situation.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript May 9, 2008] Reference

How do you put on pressure and, yet, de-escalate at the same time?.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Mar 29, 2007] Reference

Geraldine needs to de-escalate this for the sake of her own candidate.    From Wordnik.com.  [Ferraro's Latest: "They're Attacking Me Because I'm White"] Reference

It could also mediate and it could, you know, de-escalate the situation.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Oct 21, 2002] Reference

We had some rabble rousers in the group that would not let it de-escalate.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Oct 17, 2005] Reference

So, I do think that it's important to try to figure out a way to de-escalate.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Mar 29, 2007] Reference

STONE: In real life, what you want to do is try to de-escalate the situation.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Jan 10, 2006] Reference

They got the other kids out of the room, they tried to de-escalate the situation.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Apr 22, 2005] Reference

They say they'll do everything to de-escalate the situation and remove the tension.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Oct 15, 2007] Reference

Q Sir, is there a specific initiative that you will undertake to de-escalate tension?.    From Wordnik.com.  [Remarks In Photo Op With Prime Minister Of Greece] Reference

Syrian leaders are already trying to de-escalate their war of words with United States.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Apr 14, 2003] Reference

When they choose to de-escalate, both classmates and family are less likely to get hurt.    From Wordnik.com.  [Facing Down Abusers] Reference

But, in any event, all governments have the responsibility to stop this, to de-escalate.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Feb 13, 2006] Reference

So the question hinges upon whether or not the police had an opportunity to de-escalate.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Dec 3, 2003] Reference

I think they have an opportunity to resume their dialogue and to de-escalate the tensions.    From Wordnik.com.  [Press Conference By The President On The Cntbt] Reference

Since these events started, we have been trying to convince the world community to de-escalate.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Jul 16, 2006] Reference

It will be passing up a unique opportunity to reframe and de-escalate the conflict in Afghanistan.    From Wordnik.com.  [Robert Naiman: Helicopters for War, but Not Flood Relief?] Reference

If the arms inspectors can de-escalate and force compliance and the United Nations as well, why not?.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Jan 19, 2003] Reference

And I don't think that any of us wants to escalate the situation, if at all we'd like to de-escalate it.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript - Breaking News: Fmr. Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres Holds News Conference on Middle East Crisis - October 12, 2000] Reference

The presence of a U.N. team of some kind would have a calming effect, and therefore de-escalate tension.    From Wordnik.com.  [‘We’ve Missed Opportunities’] Reference

Q Even if you get India and Pakistan to de-escalate somewhat, the genie is really half out of the bottom.    From Wordnik.com.  [Press Briefing By Mike Mccurry] Reference

So, obviously, they found it safe to approach that suitcase and de-escalate any chance of an explosion there.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Jan 8, 2007] Reference

But I think they will more likely want to look ahead to see what we can do now at this point to de-escalate tensions.    From Wordnik.com.  [Press Briefing By Mike Mccurry] Reference

And the fact that we took political steps and not the military ones, I think it's just for that reason: to de-escalate.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Aug 10, 2001] Reference

Another lawman suggested using the media to secretly send a message to the sniper that would "de-escalate" the situation.    From Wordnik.com.  ["Dear Policeman, I Am God"] Reference

So tonight, in the hope that this action will lead to early talks, I am taking the first step to de-escalate the conflict.    From Wordnik.com.  [On Vietnam and Not Seeking Reelection] Reference

Questions for President Obama: If your surge in Afghanistan fails, will you be able to de-escalate as quickly as you escalated?.    From Wordnik.com.  [William J. Astore: Mary McCarthy in Vietnam, Barack Obama in Afghanistan] Reference

One party needs to make an effort at that point to try and de-escalate the argument, even if it means walking away from it, literally.    From Wordnik.com.  [Dr. John Grohol: 4 Steps To Better Communication] Reference

The increasing question from now on, spurred by the Grijalva-Honda report, will be whether to escalate or de-escalate from the quagmire.    From Wordnik.com.  [Tom Hayden: Congressional Progressives Offer an Alternative to War] Reference

And the real concern for the Kurdish officials is that if this doesn't de-escalate, they could have a humanitarian crisis on their hands.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Oct 15, 2007] Reference

The White House issuing a statement calling on all parties to de-escalate the tension and avoid conflict, conflict which is now five days in the performance.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Aug 11, 2008] Reference