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
That band’s statement alleged his threats escalated in recent months.
—
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
Trump, through a series of Truth Social ultimatums, has threatened to escalate America’s bombing campaign if Iran doesn’t forfeit control of the channel.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
Over the past few months, his threats only escalated further.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Research on support automation shows that many conversations with AI still eventually escalate to humans.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
Trump, through a series of Truth Social ultimatums, has threatened to escalate America’s bombing campaign if Iran doesn’t forfeit control of the channel.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
Over the past few months, his threats only escalated further.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Research on support automation shows that many conversations with AI still eventually escalate to humans.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalate
Verb
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The MorphoScan’s measurements ebbed and flowed from day to day as expected, with my weight dropping the day after a cardio workout and increasing after a weekend of indulgence.—
Andrew Gebhart,
PC Magazine,
5 Apr. 2026
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UConn recovered from its prolonged shooting slump to regain its bearings, eventually increasing its lead to 10 points on a Mullins’ 3 with 47 seconds left in the half before heading into the locker room up 37-29.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Such mutations can accelerate a tumor’s growth, making the cancer harder and harder to treat and sometimes, as in this instance, claiming the patient’s life.—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Netanyahu backed the bill despite warnings of an international backlash accelerating Israel’s diplomatic isolation in Europe and beyond.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Now there's another big one; the cost of nitrogen fertilizer, which often comes in the form of urea, is rising due to war.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Pisces February 19 – March 20 A fresh voice rises from within you.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Its owners have expanded their impact and influence to the nearby community to limit development and maintain its cultural identity, which includes restoring and caring for the historic stone buildings from the salt trade era.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
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This will expand affordable rental options and enable home repairs, solar installations and energy upgrades.—
Chase Jordan
April 7,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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From there, the Hornets’ advantage continued to swell with little Nets resistance, outside of a Minott flagrant foul early in the fourth quarter in a 27-point game.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
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March 13 More than 300 TSA workers have resigned about a month into the partial government shutdown, DHS says, as employees miss their first full paycheck and callout rates swell.—
Graham Hurley,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Within weeks, Ponson augmented his tasks as a fishing boat captain with a part-time job at Celebration Church in New Orleans.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
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This was the first Dragon launch from SLC-40 since the addition of a crew access arm to support Dragon launches from more than one Space Coast pad and augment normal launches from KSC’s Launch Pad 39-A.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Your 3rd House of Information and your 11th House of Community are both boosted by the Moon’s trine to lucky Jupiter.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
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Gardeners frequently incorporate raw manure in the fall or composted manure in the spring to naturally boost soil nutrients.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The school also received a Rotary Club grant, and its PTA also raised a significant amount of money.—
Molly McCrea,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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But the arc — first raising expectations for a big reveal, then declaring there was nothing to see, and ultimately a forced, flawed document dump — was a stubbornly problematic storyline that ran through her time as attorney general.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalate. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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