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
Listen to this article 3 min The feud between Zach Bryan and singer-songwriter John Moreland has escalated.
—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2025
After clashing Jewish and Palestinian national movements escalated into the first Arab-Israeli war upon the collapse of the United Kingdom's colonial holding, Egypt established effective control over the 141-square-mile Mediterranean territory that would become known as the Gaza Strip.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
But the demands of owning a WNBA team have escalated rapidly as the league goes through a period of unprecedented growth.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 13 May 2025
But Below Deck Down Under has been stuck in a bad cycle all season, where a problem will emerge, escalate, and repeat itself to the point of boredom.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2025
After clashing Jewish and Palestinian national movements escalated into the first Arab-Israeli war upon the collapse of the United Kingdom's colonial holding, Egypt established effective control over the 141-square-mile Mediterranean territory that would become known as the Gaza Strip.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
But the demands of owning a WNBA team have escalated rapidly as the league goes through a period of unprecedented growth.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 13 May 2025
But Below Deck Down Under has been stuck in a bad cycle all season, where a problem will emerge, escalate, and repeat itself to the point of boredom.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalate
Verb
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Autism rates increased, again: But RFK Jr. diverges from CDC report about the reason.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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Net income increased almost thirteenfold last year to $192.4 million from $15.3 million in 2023.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
14 May 2025
Verb
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Businesses ready to explore how crypto payments can accelerate growth are invited to connect directly through the Vantack platform.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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Comment with strategy and purpose The next secret to accelerated growth lives in your LinkedIn commenting strategy.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Insurance premiums have risen 24% on average in recent years, according to the Consumer Federation of America.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
23 May 2025
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This surge reflects growing investor confidence in NuScale’s distinctive position within the nuclear energy industry, propelled by rising electricity demand amid the AI boom and the swift progression of global electrification.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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This year, that influence expanded into the cultural mainstream with her debut on Season 7 of The Real Housewives of Miami.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
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On a year-on-year basis, however, Japan's GDP expanded 1.7%, the largest expansion since the first quarter of 2023 and a stronger showing compared to the 1.3% growth seen in the fourth quarter.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
16 May 2025
Verb
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December 2012 Intense pain, swelling, and overwhelming fatigue worsen.—
Health,
Health,
20 May 2025
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The wheat fields practically glow golden-yellow, the citizens work and mingle while wearing gorgeous and colorful clothes, and the music swells and soothes with ancient vibes.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Automate Administrative Tasks Generative AI can help augment your human capital efforts by taking over routine tasks.—
Heather Peters,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
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This is the first of a new type of rideshare program flying to that orbit that augments SpaceX’s Transporter program that flies to SSO.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 May 2025
Verb
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The September departure of OpenAI’s chief technology officer, Mira Murati, who then founded a rival AI startup, has intensified the AI talent war.—
Anna Tong,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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And political repression has intensified since Maduro’s fraudulent July 2024 re-election, says a new report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) advocacy group.—
Andres Oppenheimer,
Miami Herald,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Trump’s budget also boosts Homeland Security spending, propping up another sprawling bureaucracy.—
Veronique de Rugy,
Twin Cities,
13 May 2025
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Programs like Archways to Opportunity also lift entire communities and boost a corporation’s overall reputation.—
Ryan Stowers,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalate. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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