1
as in to increase
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
as the war between the two countries escalated, it threatened to become a global conflict
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to accelerate
to make greater in size, amount, or number
the president promised to escalate the government's program to combat the dreaded disease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of escalate
The Knicks' starters have a negative rating throughout the postseason, but everything has escalated during this series with Indiana.
—
Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
Despite clearly communicating her dietary restrictions to her mother-in-law, the situation has escalated to a point where family dinners have become filled with tension and conflict.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 25 May 2025
The verbal altercation quickly escalated when the victim exited his vehicle, and the offender, who remained inside his own car, pulled out a firearm and fired several shots at the man.
—Ikram Mohamed, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2025
This cultural suppression continued for decades, as political unrest escalated and the state’s grip on artistic expression tightened.
—Ali Farahmand, IndieWire, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
Despite clearly communicating her dietary restrictions to her mother-in-law, the situation has escalated to a point where family dinners have become filled with tension and conflict.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 25 May 2025
The verbal altercation quickly escalated when the victim exited his vehicle, and the offender, who remained inside his own car, pulled out a firearm and fired several shots at the man.
—Ikram Mohamed, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2025
This cultural suppression continued for decades, as political unrest escalated and the state’s grip on artistic expression tightened.
—Ali Farahmand, IndieWire, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalate
Verb
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These stressors seem to be taking a toll; measurements show anxiety and sleep deprivation among adolescents are rising, and even teen suicide attempts are increasing.—
Clara Moskowitz,
Scientific American,
26 May 2025
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In the past 12 months alone, revenue increased 8.1% from $372 billion to $400 billion.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Verb
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Businesses ready to explore how crypto payments can accelerate growth are invited to connect directly through the Vantack platform.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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Comment with strategy and purpose The next secret to accelerated growth lives in your LinkedIn commenting strategy.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Insurance premiums have risen 24% on average in recent years, according to the Consumer Federation of America.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
23 May 2025
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This attack must serve as a wake-up call for our nation to deal once and for all with this rising tide of hate.—
Jonathan Greenblatt,
Time,
23 May 2025
Verb
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The move also expands its compost footprint in the Southeast.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
27 May 2025
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Dowling’s donation comes as Northwell, New York’s largest health care provider, is actively lobbying the city government on a plan to expand its Lenox Hill Hospital complex on the Upper East Side, filings show.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
27 May 2025
Verb
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Sinusitis, which means inflammation of the sinuses, can result in pain, tenderness or even swelling in or around different parts of your face and head such as your eyes, ears, cheeks, forehead, mouth, teeth, throat and head in general as well.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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Untold pieces of protest art also were created in public spaces across the U.S. – from murals honoring Floyd, to calls for justice and support for the Black Lives Matter movement, which swelled in the wake of Floyd's death.—
Deena Zaru,
ABC News,
26 May 2025
Verb
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Sperling initially designs his work in black and white, later adding color to augment his vision.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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That motor augments the rider's pedaling power up to a top speed of 25 km/h (16 mph), automatically triggered by a torque sensor on the bike's crankset.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 May 2025
Verb
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The September departure of OpenAI’s chief technology officer, Mira Murati, who then founded a rival AI startup, has intensified the AI talent war.—
Anna Tong,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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Working with players on a daily basis allows medical teams to develop strong relationships with them, but this can intensify the pressure to make the right decisions.—
Geoff Scott,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
Verb
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As wildfires become more frequent and damaging in Southern California and beyond, Whaling’s invention is getting the attention of officials eager to boost preparedness.—
Dorany Pineda,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2025
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Meant to boost exports across dozens of sectors, many fell short of their targets.—
Michael Sheldrick,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalate. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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