1
as in increases
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 accelerates
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of escalates
Musk and Altman's feud escalates The conflict between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has intensified after Musk amplified a conspiracy theory that an OpenAI whistleblower, whose death had been officially deemed a suicide, was actually murdered.
—
Diane Brady, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Leaders should implement a human-in-the-loop protocol where AI handles routine inquiries but escalates complex or sensitive issues to human agents.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Social media amplifies and escalates conflicts.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
As the moons clash with Mars, your lack of a filter escalates an argument.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
The tension escalates into a moment when Matt finally delivers the news, which Howard doesn't take well.
—Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Sandra Buchta’s script manages to stay on the right side of plausibility even as the situation escalates.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
The fight escalates and ends with Santana pushing Sue into a cabinet.
—Daysia Tolentino, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Residents should be prepared to re-evacuate if fire activity escalates.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 18 Aug. 2025
Diane Brady, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Leaders should implement a human-in-the-loop protocol where AI handles routine inquiries but escalates complex or sensitive issues to human agents.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Social media amplifies and escalates conflicts.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
As the moons clash with Mars, your lack of a filter escalates an argument.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
The tension escalates into a moment when Matt finally delivers the news, which Howard doesn't take well.
—Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Sandra Buchta’s script manages to stay on the right side of plausibility even as the situation escalates.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
The fight escalates and ends with Santana pushing Sue into a cabinet.
—Daysia Tolentino, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Residents should be prepared to re-evacuate if fire activity escalates.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalates
Verb
-
And the alloy wheels are an inch smaller, which increases the range to 288 miles (464 km).—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Every decision either increases your freedom or decreases it.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Productive patience accelerates results in the long run.—
Yasir Hashmi,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
And by streamlining the NEPA permitting process, OBBBA also accelerates the construction of mines, oil and gas wells, and power plants that produce cheap and reliable energy required for reindustrialization.—
Richard Stern,
Boston Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
If inflation rises, the Fed could increase interest rates in an attempt to slow the economy.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Either way, what a great result that expands theatrical audiences.—
Nancy Tartaglione,
Deadline,
14 Sep. 2025
-
While Quark primarily operates in the polar regions, the company expands to subpolar destinations during the shoulder seasons, before the fleet repositions to the other side of the globe.—
Stefanie Waldek,
AFAR Media,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Each October, when the river swells with rainwater, workers pause, move their tools and wares away, and only return once the waters recede.—
Faye Bradley,
CNN Money,
28 Aug. 2025
-
The difference between a story that swells into something bigger than the writer or collapses when the pen is no longer in their hand.—
Ken Polk,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Without a game-changing tech update that either drastically lowers its costs or dramatically boosts its profits, OpenAI may be toast.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Joks emphasizes that the nasal spray shouldn’t replace getting a COVID vaccine, which boosts the body’s immune response to prevent an infection from taking hold and causing serious illness.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This comparison gets intense in organizational settings because workplaces have a clear hierarchy, which intensifies comparisons.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
As climate change intensifies natural disasters, states across the US have been mandating that home sellers disclose risks such as flooding.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Leaders must pair intelligence with intention, ensuring AI augments humanity, not replaces it.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The companies building them are laying the groundwork for a future that’s more efficient and more resilient — and, if developed thoughtfully, one that augments work without losing the critical role people play.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Escalates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalates. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share