1
as in increasing
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 accelerating
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 escalating
These confrontations highlight the dangers our agents face daily and the escalating aggression toward law enforcement.
—
Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
London — Two top leaders at the BBC resigned on Sunday amid an escalating scandal over impartiality and bias that plunged Britain’s public broadcaster into one of its biggest crises in recent years.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
The lack of money could leave vendors unpaid and trigger escalating legal claims, the states warned.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025
What followed quickly went beyond retaliation and was touching civilians in an unexpected, escalating way.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
Delays and disruptions have already hit airports across the country as a result of escalating staffing shortages.
—NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
Concerns are brewing among Trumpworld insiders about an escalating feud between two of the president’s top law enforcement officers.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
The move comes amid escalating Russian attacks using waves of Shahed-136 drones and missile salvos meant to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
But the plan fell through by October due to escalating costs, the city said in a statement at the time.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025
Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
London — Two top leaders at the BBC resigned on Sunday amid an escalating scandal over impartiality and bias that plunged Britain’s public broadcaster into one of its biggest crises in recent years.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
The lack of money could leave vendors unpaid and trigger escalating legal claims, the states warned.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025
What followed quickly went beyond retaliation and was touching civilians in an unexpected, escalating way.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
Delays and disruptions have already hit airports across the country as a result of escalating staffing shortages.
—NPR, 7 Nov. 2025
Concerns are brewing among Trumpworld insiders about an escalating feud between two of the president’s top law enforcement officers.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
The move comes amid escalating Russian attacks using waves of Shahed-136 drones and missile salvos meant to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
But the plan fell through by October due to escalating costs, the city said in a statement at the time.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalating
Verb
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Many are pulling six-day work weeks with mandatory overtime, and increasing numbers have begun calling out as the financial strain and exhaustion mount.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
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The military is striking the boats at the same time the administration is applying increasing pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.—
NPR,
NPR,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Dark energy was introduced as a placeholder force to explain this accelerating expansion.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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The expansion rate of the universe may be slowing down, rather than accelerating at an ever-growing rate, a potentially groundbreaking new study has hinted.—
Ian Randall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
There are trade-offs, of course—rising Obamacare premiums will harm people, too.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
11 Nov. 2025
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Both consultants estimated that inflation in Caracas is currently running between 20% and 30% a month and is destined to keep rising as long as the bolivar depreciation continues.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The concept is expanding into practice in the state as a solution to regional food distribution challenges.—
Cristina LaRue,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
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Future work will focus on integrating snow-deposition modeling with PV yield simulations to more accurately predict energy losses and on expanding analyses to more complex, uneven alpine terrain.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Per BrightOcular, potential complications include infections, high pressure in the eye, glaucoma, inflammation of the iris, swelling in the cornea, loss of cells around the cornea, deterioration of the iris and more.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Arthritis refers to swelling in the joints.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Stickers from The Good Patch include Nite Nite for better sleep, Think for boosting focus, and Rescue for hangovers.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
11 Nov. 2025
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This would increase demand without boosting supply, which could worsen the cost-of-living problem at the heart of Americans’ frustrations with the economy.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Courtesy Deirdre Hall When reading women’s routine mammograms, radiologists are increasingly augmenting their eyes with artificial intelligence.—
Elizabeth Cohen,
NBC news,
22 Oct. 2025
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The British royal family member accessorized her look with gold earrings by English designer Daniella Draper — donning a pair of mini hoops with shamrock charms in gold, further augmenting the fall shades of her ensemble.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Escalating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalating. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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