What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
deescalate
Example
The police officer tried to deescalate the situation by talking calmly to the suspect. [deescalate: verb]
Example
The company implemented measures to deescalate the tension between employees. [deescalate: infinitive]
mitigate
Example
The doctor prescribed medication to mitigate the symptoms of the patient's illness. [mitigate: verb]
Example
The company implemented measures to mitigate the environmental impact of their operations. [mitigate: infinitive]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mitigate is more commonly used than deescalate in everyday language. Mitigate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while deescalate is more specific and often used in crisis or conflict situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between deescalate and mitigate?
Both deescalate and mitigate are formal words that are commonly used in professional or academic contexts. However, mitigate is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while deescalate is more specific and often used in formal or serious situations.
