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
In a video about an erratic Uber driver, a recognizable dynamic—awkward small talk, impatience to set off—escalates into a life-threatening one.
—
Alex Barasch, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
The conflict escalates when Stoner fails Lomax’s protégé, Charles Walker, a student who fakes his seminar report and lacks basic knowledge.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
If the situation escalates, the CDC could increase the level.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 8 May 2026
While his bravado initially masks fear, Billy ultimately reveals unexpected courage, emerging as an unlikely ally as danger escalates.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 May 2026
From there, the immune system escalates.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 6 May 2026
Yet the government of the United States speaks of war every day, speaks of threats every day, and every day escalates its threatening rhetoric toward Cuba; but the Cuban people are not afraid.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 4 May 2026
While the blocking measure is not likely to derail the Xi-Trump summit, Washington’s reaction to it will indicate if the matter escalates, according to analysts from Eurasia Group.
—Bloomberg, Fortune, 4 May 2026
Keep your responses measured and your commitments realistic so nothing escalates unnecessarily.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Alex Barasch, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
The conflict escalates when Stoner fails Lomax’s protégé, Charles Walker, a student who fakes his seminar report and lacks basic knowledge.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
If the situation escalates, the CDC could increase the level.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 8 May 2026
While his bravado initially masks fear, Billy ultimately reveals unexpected courage, emerging as an unlikely ally as danger escalates.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 May 2026
From there, the immune system escalates.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 6 May 2026
Yet the government of the United States speaks of war every day, speaks of threats every day, and every day escalates its threatening rhetoric toward Cuba; but the Cuban people are not afraid.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 4 May 2026
While the blocking measure is not likely to derail the Xi-Trump summit, Washington’s reaction to it will indicate if the matter escalates, according to analysts from Eurasia Group.
—Bloomberg, Fortune, 4 May 2026
Keep your responses measured and your commitments realistic so nothing escalates unnecessarily.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 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
-
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
-
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
-
The guilt swells and swells while the sweater sits and sits.—
Liana Satenstein,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
-
As the orchestra swells, a voice slowly surfaces.—
Ben Cardew,
Pitchfork,
2 May 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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The flowers’ blue color intensifies with the summer sun.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
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Newsom and other supporters have said the tunnel would protect the state’s water system as climate change intensifies severe droughts and deluges.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 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 14 May. 2026.
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