escalate

verb

ˈe-skə-ˌlāt How to pronounce escalate (audio)
Definition of escalatenext
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

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 escalate That hasn't been the trend lately, as Friday's slide in the stock market coincided with an aggressive sell-off in bonds, a trade largely driven by fears of escalating oil prices hitting both asset classes. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 As French protesters took to the street this week over the country’s escalating debt crisis, poor school conditions, and political gridlock, retailers were caught in the crossfire. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026 Yet missing from this bleak picture are the ways that Ukraine has already adapted to escalating attacks. — Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026 The escalating fuel prices helped surcharge revenue nearly double at each railroad. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalate
  1. increase
  2. accelerate
  3. rise
  4. expand
  5. swell
  6. augment
  7. boost
  8. raise
Verb
  • Kim Hong-Cheol, the South Korean military official, said leaving the dispute over the military demarcation line unresolved would increase the risk of accidental clashes because troops from both sides act on their own understanding of the line.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • As rain chances increase overnight, the temperature will drop to 40 degrees.
    — Hali Smith October 23, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of increase
Verb
  • The car can accelerate from zero-60 in less than a second and perform feats that once belonged in science fiction.
    — Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The company says the changes are intended to make electric vehicles more affordable while accelerating development and manufacturing.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of accelerate
Verb
  • A couple of sections in the shade, on the home sideline, rose a bit more than 3%.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026
  • But then shipping disruptions, rising fuel costs, and steep international tariffs made exporting increasingly difficult, prompting Yu to turn her attention to building a domestic market.
    — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of rise
Verb
  • An interceptor that can engage targets at greater distances could expand the area protected by existing air defense units.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Founded by three childhood friends, Olivier Bon, Pierre-Charles Cros, and Romée de Gorianoff, who were later joined by Xavier Padovani, the Experimental Group gradually expanded to encompass wine bars, restaurants, and boutique hotels.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of expand
Verb
  • Engineers trying to support swelling AI workloads, video streaming, and cloud services often add thicker cables with more fiber pairs.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Hedge fund assets swell With gross assets now standing at about $13 trillion, hedge funds have become an increasingly important part of the global investor landscape, the IMF said on Tuesday.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of swell
Verb
  • To prepare for this week’s storms, the Los Angeles Fire Department has augmented resources to help with swift-water rescues and mud and debris flows, with a specific focus on burn scar areas, according to a news release from Mayor Karen Bass.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Trump’s flexible realism also entails recognizing the need to form bespoke coalitions of the willing to augment the United Nations and other large multilateral institutions.
    — Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of augment
Verb
  • In France, the sales boost in the quarter was driven by strong summer sales in destination locations across the French Riviera, particularly Cannes and Monaco.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Caffeine pouches, small packets placed in the mouth between the lip and gum, are marketed as a portable and discreet way to boost energy and focus.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of boost
Verb
  • In 2022, the central bank raised rates by three-quarters of a point six days before the midterm elections, part of its fight against the worst inflation in four decades.
    — Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • And the evidence uncovered by Chair Loudermilk raises serious questions about Speaker Pelosi's role in those decisions.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of raise

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escalate
escalated
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Cite this Entry

“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalate. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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