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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of escalate
Morrone proves herself quite an adept horror heroine, keeping Rachel grounded in a likable and earthy relatability even as her mental state spirals in direct proportion to the escalating terror around her.
—
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026
To sustain a ceasefire, Israel still remains a wildcard, as any sudden attack could quickly escalate the situation.
—Lee Ying Shan,anniek Bao, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
While the First Amendment protects many aspects of protest and assembly, Wisconsin has some legal limitations in place if demonstrations escalate into disruptions.
—Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Kharg Island is the hub for around 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports, and experts say any attacks on refineries there would cause the conflict to escalate.
—Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026
To sustain a ceasefire, Israel still remains a wildcard, as any sudden attack could quickly escalate the situation.
—Lee Ying Shan,anniek Bao, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
While the First Amendment protects many aspects of protest and assembly, Wisconsin has some legal limitations in place if demonstrations escalate into disruptions.
—Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Kharg Island is the hub for around 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports, and experts say any attacks on refineries there would cause the conflict to escalate.
—Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalate
Verb
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Farmers had hoped to compensate for last year's losses, when farm bankruptcies increased for the second year in a row.—
Lana Zak,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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The goal is to complete the project ahead of the FIFA World Cup, when traffic and pedestrian activity are expected to increase downtown.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At the height of the pandemic — when learning loss was accelerating and reading gaps were widening — the approval process was estimated to take six months to a year.—
Daniel L Gordon,
Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
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In the long term, the supply shock may accelerate nuclear restarts and electric vehicle adoption faster than years of climate policy ever managed.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the meantime, the Bay Area will stay dry on Thursday with a notable warming trend as temperatures rise back into the 80s across the interior, with a more muted warmup (into the 70s) closer to the water.—
Greg Porter,
San Francisco Chronicle,
26 Mar. 2026
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Tensions rose, neighbors said, to the point that King was heard at times swearing at Kirsten Wells as well as others using vulgar epithets.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With the 2026 midterms approaching, sustained voter unease could reshape the broader electoral map and complicate Republican efforts to hold or expand their congressional margins.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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But the department is looking to expand its authority.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 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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Fortifier, a product tailored to preemies, is meant to augment mother’s milk when babies are born prematurely and a mother’s milk alone doesn’t deliver enough nutrition.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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And the bullpen highlighted by Carlos Estevez and Lucas Erceg augmented by the addition of Matt Strahm figures to give them an advantage in putting away games.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This time, there were more events scheduled − 3,300 versus 2,700 − and larger crowds reported in some places, boosted in part by opposition to the war in Iran.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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Orr hired Campbell away from Oregon, where the coach’s mastery in recruiting helped boost the Ducks to national prominence.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Young raised concerns about the legitimacy, and even the existence, of the agreement.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
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The goal is to continue the mission with the money raised.—
Kerri Corrado,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalate. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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