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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of escalates
The tension escalates into a moment when Matt finally delivers the news, which Howard doesn't take well.
—
Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Sandra Buchta’s script manages to stay on the right side of plausibility even as the situation escalates.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
The fight escalates and ends with Santana pushing Sue into a cabinet.
—Daysia Tolentino, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Additionally, the short interest has risen, leading to significant price fluctuations as trading activity escalates.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Residents should be prepared to re-evacuate if fire activity escalates.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 18 Aug. 2025
Using brands without permission rarely escalates to a lawsuit due to fair use protections, which is why networks like HBO seem unconcerned about brand backlash.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
In the statement, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to imposing additional sanctions, including sanctions targeting key sectors of the Russian economy, if the situation escalates further.
—Miriam Sapiro, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
This escalates diplomatic tensions as countries deny their citizens are involved and face accusations of direct state sponsorship or tacit approval of Putin's aggression.
—Brendan Cole
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025
Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Sandra Buchta’s script manages to stay on the right side of plausibility even as the situation escalates.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
The fight escalates and ends with Santana pushing Sue into a cabinet.
—Daysia Tolentino, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Additionally, the short interest has risen, leading to significant price fluctuations as trading activity escalates.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Residents should be prepared to re-evacuate if fire activity escalates.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 18 Aug. 2025
Using brands without permission rarely escalates to a lawsuit due to fair use protections, which is why networks like HBO seem unconcerned about brand backlash.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
In the statement, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to imposing additional sanctions, including sanctions targeting key sectors of the Russian economy, if the situation escalates further.
—Miriam Sapiro, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
This escalates diplomatic tensions as countries deny their citizens are involved and face accusations of direct state sponsorship or tacit approval of Putin's aggression.
—Brendan Cole
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalates
Verb
-
But Musk would get those shares only if the value of Tesla stock increases significantly in coming years.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
-
But sending soldiers who are not well versed in policing increases the likelihood of mistakes.—
Luke William Hunt,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Coaching accelerates trust, sharpens skills, and keeps teams engaged even when separated by time zones and thousands of miles.—
Matthew C. Meade,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The missile’s low-G launch from the cannon avoids the need for hardened components, while a rocket motor accelerates it to low supersonic speeds.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Buy before his price rises multiple rounds.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Now, even if the AL and NL were to stay, realignment is going to have to happen anyway once MLB expands to 32 teams.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The film expands on the novel Stabat Mater by Tiziano Scarpa, which in turn is based on the real life of Vivaldi who was a Roman Catholic priest and taught at the Ospedale della Pietà for almost 30 years.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Each October, when the river swells with rainwater, workers pause, move their tools and wares away, and only return once the waters recede.—
Faye Bradley,
CNN Money,
28 Aug. 2025
-
The difference between a story that swells into something bigger than the writer or collapses when the pen is no longer in their hand.—
Ken Polk,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The system is also compatible with high-performance photovoltaic cells, like gallium arsenide (GaAs), a compound semiconductor that boosts overall power conversion.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Sep. 2025
-
One 2023 study even found that attending live sporting events boosts life satisfaction and reduces loneliness as much as starting a new job.—
Todd Rogers,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Trump has been unable to follow through on his promises to apply economic sanctions as Putin intensifies his attacks on civilians in Ukraine, Boyechko added.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
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The decision to strip away all context intensifies its emotional weight, transforming silence into an overwhelming presence.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In fact, in occupations or roles where AI augments tasks, entry-level employment remained stable or even grew.—
John Koetsier,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
-
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,
18 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Escalates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalates. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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