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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of escalates
Keep your responses measured and your commitments realistic so nothing escalates unnecessarily.
—
Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
The plot of the episode escalates from there, until WESAYSO kills not just the plants, but all plant life on earth.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Providing the exact location of a potential burglary, suspect description and vehicle description (including the make/model/color of the car) will help officers respond quickly before the confrontation escalates to prevent future crime.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
As diplomacy stalls, brutal fighting grinds along an 800-mile front with heavy Russian casualties, while Ukraine escalates drone strikes deep inside Russian territory.
—Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
So Russia escalates the war in Ukraine to a full-scale war in February of ’22.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 22 Apr. 2026
As was the case in the first season as well, the finale escalates to a place of thrilling zaniness, with a little less ultimate emotional gravitas this time around.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
So far, Beef’s episodes have marched on chronologically as the conflict escalates.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
As rivalry escalates into a battle for control, the two women push one another to dangerous extremes.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
The plot of the episode escalates from there, until WESAYSO kills not just the plants, but all plant life on earth.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Providing the exact location of a potential burglary, suspect description and vehicle description (including the make/model/color of the car) will help officers respond quickly before the confrontation escalates to prevent future crime.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
As diplomacy stalls, brutal fighting grinds along an 800-mile front with heavy Russian casualties, while Ukraine escalates drone strikes deep inside Russian territory.
—Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
So Russia escalates the war in Ukraine to a full-scale war in February of ’22.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 22 Apr. 2026
As was the case in the first season as well, the finale escalates to a place of thrilling zaniness, with a little less ultimate emotional gravitas this time around.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
So far, Beef’s episodes have marched on chronologically as the conflict escalates.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
As rivalry escalates into a battle for control, the two women push one another to dangerous extremes.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalates
Verb
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CycloKinetics says the fuel improves combustion performance and increases energy density, helping missiles travel farther while improving standoff capability.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 May 2026
-
Prioritize In-Flight Hydration Air travel greatly increases your risk of dehydration due to the extremely low humidity and lower cabin pressure.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, the unceasing churn of clothing, footwear and accessories depletes soils, poisons the water, pollutes the air, drives deforestation, accelerates biodiversity loss and generates runaway planet-warming emissions that undermine brands’ lofty environmental ambitions.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
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As the Pentagon accelerates adoption, scrutiny from within the tech sector is likely to intensify.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The move comes as electricity demand in the country’s mining region rises faster than supply, with miners building metal processing plants to satisfy local policymakers’ desire to keep some of the value chain in the country.—
Ruben Nyanguila,
semafor.com,
6 May 2026
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Smoke rises from Israeli bombardment on the village of Mayfadoun, as seen from nearby Marjayoun, in southern Lebanon, May 6, 2026.—
May 6,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Frontier expands routes, will cut less profitable ones Dempsey took over from longtime Frontier CEO Barry Biffle in December and has unwound some of his more aggressive expansion plans.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
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If the College Football Playoff expands, the urgency of the regular season diminishes by comparison, and in a sport that had, inarguably, the greatest regular season in sports, that's a huge blow.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
As the orchestra swells, a voice slowly surfaces.—
Ben Cardew,
Pitchfork,
2 May 2026
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Backlash swells to Russia web crackdown Public backlash is growing in Russia in response to Moscow’s efforts to tighten control over the internet.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Consumers’ coffers have been buffered by larger tax refunds, wage gains (although slowing), and wealth boosts (particularly for upper-income consumers).—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
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Supporting pollinators boosts biodiversity and helps maintain a healthy, thriving garden ecosystem.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
5 May 2026
Verb
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Its residents will also be awaiting further attacks, as Ukraine intensifies its campaign to disrupt the Russian oil industry and deprive the Kremlin of crucial funding for its war machine.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
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Mexico arrests cartel leader amid widening gang crackdown Mexico’s military arrested a top cartel leader in a raid involving more than 500 troops, the country’s security minister announced on Monday, as President Claudia Sheinbaum intensifies her gang crackdown.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That turns the chatbot from a substitute for care into something that augments the therapeutic alliance between you and your care team.—
Sudheesha Perera,
Time,
6 May 2026
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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,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Escalates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalates. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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