Synonyms of escalate

escalate

verb

ˈe-skə-ˌlāt 

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

• increase
• rise
• accelerate
• swell
• expand
• intensify
• climb
• multiply
• proliferate
• accumulate
• spread
• roll up
• wax
• mount
• gain
• enlarge
• appreciate
• boom
• snowball
• surge
• build up
• heighten
• jump
• balloon
• burgeon
• skyrocket
• mushroom
• rocket
• redouble
• inflate
• peak
• bulk
• puff (up)
• distend
• blow up
• crescendo
• crest

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decrease
• diminish
• recede
• lessen
• contract
• dwindle
• wane

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

• increase
• accelerate
• expand
• augment
• boost
• raise
• multiply
• extend
• intensify
• enhance
• add (to)
• amplify
• reinforce
• swell
• stoke
• maximize
• enlarge
• strengthen
• aggrandize
• build up
• pump up
• compound
• up
• skyrocket
• heighten
• supersize
• hype
• develop
• jump
• prolong
• spike
• inflate
• supplement
• lengthen
• draw out
• protract
• bump (up)
• flesh (out)
• boom
• dilate
• complement
• distend
• elongate
• stretch
• blow up
• accumulate
• magnify
• ratchet (up)
• rachet (up)
• beef (up)
• collect
• amass
• follow up
• parlay

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reduce
• decrease
• diminish
• lessen
• abate
• dwindle
• lower
• subtract (from)
• curtail
• downsize
• shorten
• de-escalate
• abridge
• abbreviate
• minify
• contract
• compress
• constrict
• condense
• cut back
• retrench

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of escalate

The European Council on Foreign Relations noted recently that EU countries are struggling to coordinate an effective response to escalating drone threats. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 21 Aug. 2026

The new benefit will cost the state dearly and fall particularly hard on local governments, which have been cutting services and raising taxes to pay their escalating pension bills. — Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2026

Yet this escalating rivalry spells trouble for Southeast Asia, whose economic model has long been built on openness, cross-border networks and investments from multiple sources. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026

Miami Gardens police say an argument between a father and son escalated when the father fired through a glass door, striking his son. — Abby Dodge, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026