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Glite Dictionary
detente

detente

5 8.6
A time when two countries reduce hostility and improve relations
  • noun
  • /deɪˈtɑːnt/
: deshielo
  • The countries reached a detente after years of tension and hostility.
  • a policy of detente
  • political detente

So there was never, except for brief moments of periods of detente with the Soviets.

Examples

  • The end of the 20th century has witnessed significant steps toward Greek-Turkish detente.

    Academic text (2000)

  • There are indications that this second cross-straits detente will last.

    Academic text (2010)

  • Had he been content to take the old path of detente, results would have been poor.

    Blog text (21)

  • We can work out some sort of detente.

    D.E.B.S. (2005)

  • By this time, Detente was in full swing.

    Academic text (2015)

  • When Reagan turned to detente, Congress went along.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The second detente has also included explicitly political deals.

    Academic text (2010)

  • The potential for an ideological detente between the United States and the Vatican has been evolving for more than two centuries.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Politics inside Myanmar is always murky, but several factors probably prompted this detente.

    Academic text (2002)

  • Turkish detente with Greece is now tightly linked to the evolution of Turkey's relationship with the European Union.

    Academic text (2000)

Synonyms

reconciliation
vsdetente
112 5.3

A return to friendly relations after a disagreement

focuses on easing hostility without necessarily fully restoring past harmony
rapprochement
vsdetente
  • Formal
6 9.9

Making friendly relations again between countries or groups

is a more general easing of hostile relations rather than active rebuilding effort
conciliation
vsdetente
6 6.7

An act that brings people or groups back to peace with help from a neutral person

is broader easing of hostile relations without requiring neutral mediation
de-escalation
vsdetente
5 4.8

Reducing the violence in a conflict to make it less dangerous

aims at easing relations rather than only lowering conflict intensity or danger
thaw
vsdetente
4 6.4

A period when two groups become less angry and more friendly

refers to a deliberate easing of hostility rather than just a casual period

Antonyms

tension
469 3.2

A feeling of nervousness and anger between people or inside a person

hostility
120 4.7

Unfriendly or angry actions and feelings toward someone

How Peaceful

reconciliation
112 5.3
rapprochement
  • Formal
6 9.9
detente
5 8.6
thaw
4 6.4
tension
469 3.2

Surface Forms

detente singular
detentes plural

Etymology

The word detente comes from French and means 'relaxation' or 'loosening', like when you loosen a tight rope after pulling it. So detente is the easing of bad feelings between countries and is the opposite of tension.