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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of escalate
Other global financial chiefs have similarly pointed to unexpected resilience, with nations skirting an escalating, tit-for-tat trade war that threatened to hobble markets.
—
J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
The series, set in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam, where violence and crime are escalating, sees Roman Mertens (Kelchtermans) recruited to join a specialist wiretapping police team.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025
The post follows escalating tensions in the Chicago suburb of Broadview, where protesters have clashed with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents outside a processing facility.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
The risk escalates dramatically in high-emission scenarios over multi-century timescales.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalate
J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
The series, set in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam, where violence and crime are escalating, sees Roman Mertens (Kelchtermans) recruited to join a specialist wiretapping police team.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025
The post follows escalating tensions in the Chicago suburb of Broadview, where protesters have clashed with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents outside a processing facility.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
The risk escalates dramatically in high-emission scenarios over multi-century timescales.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalate
Verb
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Thus, even if a farmer primarily relied on corn for sustenance and/or trade, planting beans and squash alongside the maize increased the nutritive value of the same area.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
14 Oct. 2025
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The alliance should also increase its training with an eye toward degrading or destroying the Kaliningrad facilities should direct hostilities break out.—
James Stavridis,
Twin Cities,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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With the right guardrails, integrating AI and other emerging technologies can help boards decode complex issues faster, accelerate upskilling, and enhance decision-making.—
Lara Abrash,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
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Such access, Su explained, accelerates the development of AI tools in areas like healthcare and emotional support.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Oct. 2025
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The actress, who rose to fame for her iconic roles in beloved films such as Annie Hall, The First Wives Club, The Godfather, and many more, died in California, PEOPLE reported on Saturday.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The nursery did well, so Kids Planet began to expand.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Fortune,
9 Oct. 2025
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The team plans to expand the research to evaluate inhaler emissions in specific patient groups, such as Medicaid recipients, and to compare clinical outcomes of low- and high-emission inhalers in the same therapeutic class.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The country’s declining birthrate means a shrinking workforce saddled with supporting a swelling elderly population.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
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But while the Spartans swelled with early confidence, the Bruins’ didn’t quite blink.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The 21st century’s computer generated gore Around the turn of the millennium, filmmakers turned to CGI to augment their fake blood, adjusting the colors or make their splatter physics a little more convincing.—
Mark Hay,
Popular Science,
9 Oct. 2025
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Longoria continued her ivory color scheme with a clutch, and augmented her look with warm tones thanks to her small gold hoop earrings and strappy gold sandal heels.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Padrino also accused Washington of sharply intensifying aerial surveillance of Venezuela, citing a surge in spy flights last month.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
9 Oct. 2025
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And, as the first phase of his Gaza peace plan makes headway, the focus on the prospect of him winning is intensifying.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The scaffold was additionally shown to boost fusion with the surrounding bone.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Oct. 2025
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In response, Taipei has extended mandatory military service from four months to one year, boosted arms purchases from its top supplier, the United States, and modestly raised defense spending—measures that have met stiff resistance from opposition lawmakers.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalate. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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