standdown
Cease military alert
A standdown is an order or period during which military forces or other personnel cease normal operations, often for rest, regrouping, or to defuse a tense situation.
The term extends to any deliberate pause in activity: The company announced a standdown on new hires until the budget stabilizes.
As a verb phrase, to stand down means to withdraw from a position or relax a state of readiness: The troops were ordered to stand down after the ceasefire.
Agreed halt to fighting
- truceAgreed halt to hostilities
- armisticeAgreement to cease hostilities
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- withdrawRemove or pull away
disengage · demobilize · halt · disband · decommission · disarmament · redeployment · peacekeeping
Temporary halt or exclusion
- cessationA full stopping
- haltComplete sudden stop
- moratoriumTemporary prohibition or delay
- hiatusBreak in activity
recess · intermission · respite · reprieve · abeyance · freeze · discontinuance · lull
Free from agitation
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
mediation · conciliation · detente · restraint · pacification · reconciliation · easing · moderation
ceasefire
Agreed halt to fighting
- truceAgreed halt to hostilities
- armisticeAgreement to cease hostilities
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
withdraw · disengage · demobilize · halt · disband · decommission · disarmament · redeployment · peacekeeping · debriefing
suspension
Temporary halt or exclusion
- cessationA full stopping
- haltComplete sudden stop
- moratoriumTemporary prohibition or delay
hiatus · recess · intermission · respite · reprieve · abeyance · freeze · discontinuance · lull · stoppage
calm
Free from agitation
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
compromise · mediation · conciliation · detente · restraint · pacification · reconciliation · easing · moderation · disengagement
unwind
Release accumulated tension
- decompressRelease stored pressure
- relaxBecome less tense
- reposePeaceful stillness or calm
leisure · respite · downtime · off-duty · recuperate · recharge · breather · siesta · chill · lounge
- ceasefirestruce, armistice, ceasefire line, ceasefire violation, Christmas truce
- demobilizationdemob, demobilize, demobilization, disband, disbanding
- delaysdelays, delay, delayed, postponement, postpone
- war diplomacytruce, peace treaty, peace deal, armistice, ceasefire
standdownmobilization
Organizing for action
alert · call to arms · deployment · activation · battle stations
standdownescalation
Progressive increase in intensity
provocation · aggression · saber-rattling · confrontation · warmongering
down, stand, standing, stood, stands, lockdown, shutdown, showdown, run-down