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
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
-
Posting on multiple platforms simultaneously increases your reach, but be aware that spreading the budget evenly across all of them generally doesn't work.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
-
The vote signifies the latest push by the group to slow or halt wage increases for tourism workers in the city, increases that hospitality and service worker unions have pushed for to coincide with the 2028 Olympics.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The companies that structure their data for agents now, rather than locking it inside app interfaces, will be better positioned as that transition accelerates.—
Zach Lloyd,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
-
Makary has touted his accomplishments as commissioner, including his priority voucher program that accelerates review times for certain drugs.—
Annika Kim Constantino,Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Racine quickly rises, beats the bullies, and then returns to sit next to her sister.—
Jourdain Searles,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
-
As the meter rises, each ride becomes a space for connection and storytelling, where Kareem learns about the lives of the people behind the wheel and ultimately discovers a little more about himself.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The move aims to improve traceability and accountability as China’s humanoid robotics industry rapidly expands.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
-
Yes—putting metaphorical pen to page is fundamental, but so, too, is nurturing that which expands my literary capacity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 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
-
On terra firma, most of the available supply of helium-3 comes as a by-product of nuclear weaponry via the radioactive decay of tritium, a rare isotope of hydrogen that boosts the power of thermonuclear bombs.—
Robin George Andrews,
Scientific American,
14 May 2026
-
To that end, the campaign pays for small Instagram boosts to its videos as well as for Instagram ads asking people to contribute to Huang’s campaign.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The flowers’ blue color intensifies with the summer sun.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
-
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
-
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
-
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 17 May. 2026.
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