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 woman is seen pouring what appears to be hot sauce over Martinez's food before the confrontation quickly escalates.
—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
Violations for improperly using fireworks are a Class C Misdemeanor with fines up to $200, escalating to a Class B Misdemeanor with fines up to $2,000 or 180 days in jail if property damage tops $200 or someone is injured, per the Tarrant County Fire Marshal’s Office.
—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 June 2026
The game started steady then escalated with three back-to-back goals in the final 15 minutes.
—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
25 June 2026
Employers who provide health insurance for most working-age Americans are dealing with escalating costs.
—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
Violations for improperly using fireworks are a Class C Misdemeanor with fines up to $200, escalating to a Class B Misdemeanor with fines up to $2,000 or 180 days in jail if property damage tops $200 or someone is injured, per the Tarrant County Fire Marshal’s Office.
—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 June 2026
The game started steady then escalated with three back-to-back goals in the final 15 minutes.
—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
25 June 2026
Employers who provide health insurance for most working-age Americans are dealing with escalating costs.
—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalate
Verb
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The rent on our apartment has increased by about 70% over the past six years.
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Angels reliever Ryan Zeferjahn (4-3) struck out two in a scoreless seventh to earn the win and increase his hitless streak to 10 innings, with 19 strikeouts, over his last nine appearances.
Verb
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Co-founder and tour guide Hannah Michelle Brower says the tour will be a historical journey exploring passenger pigeons and the Lenape people, as well as looking at how the arrival of European colonizers accelerated commercial exploitation and ultimately contributed to the extinction of the bird.
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Over time, this can increase electrical resistance, generate excess heat, and accelerate battery degradation.
Verb
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Why the at-home mani pedi trend is growing Three forces are driving the shift, including DIY beauty habits that stuck after the pandemic, the rising price of salon services and a steady stream of social tutorials that make at-home nails feel achievable.
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Estate sales are also a source, though Miranda-Martin feels the rising popularity of these sales in Los Angeles has led to an increase in pricing.
Verb
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Love’s Travel Stops just expanded its service offerings for RVs, including light maintenance, battery replacement and tire replacement.
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California's new personal finance graduation requirement The lessons come as California prepares to expand financial education statewide.
Verb
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Sense of place The river — which swells with spring snowmelt — and surrounding wilderness give the property a strong sense of place.
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Symptoms can be mild to severe and range from nausea, itching, abdominal pain, swelling of the lips to life-threatening symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
Verb
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That last flavor is augmented by the whiskey’s higher proof, which veers toward burn but pulls back at the last minute.
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Further jewelry augmented the gown, with Jones accessorizing with gold bangles and bracelets and delicate rings.
Verb
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Also boosting demand and driving ticket prices for Saturday’s game is the fact that 41-year-old superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 669 million Instagram followers, is captain of the Portuguese team and has said this World Cup will be his last, making each appearance a high-profile event.
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The Livonia Spree is back again, but this year, event organizers wanted to boost security protocols.
Verb
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Relatives identified the food vendor as Arabelia Martinez, 62, and have raised more than $100,000 to pay for therapy and replace the items damaged in the incident.
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Jake embraced his stepparent role wholeheartedly and helped raise Alex alongside Antonio and Rochelle.
Cite this Entry
“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalate. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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