Synonyms of escalating

escalating

verb

present participle of escalate

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

• increasing
• rising
• accelerating
• swelling
• expanding
• intensifying
• climbing
• multiplying
• proliferating
• snowballing
• mounting
• accumulating
• waxing
• mushrooming
• ballooning
• spreading
• surging
• burgeoning
• booming
• enlarging
• gaining
• rolling up
• skyrocketing
• heightening
• jumping
• appreciating
• building up
• rocketing
• inflating
• peaking
• redoubling
• distending
• puffing (up)
• cresting
• bulking
• crescendoing
• blowing up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decreasing
• diminishing
• contracting
• lessening
• receding
• waning
• dwindling

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

• increasing
• accelerating
• expanding
• boosting
• augmenting
• raising
• multiplying
• extending
• intensifying
• swelling
• enhancing
• stoking
• compounding
• amplifying
• reinforcing
• adding (to)
• enlarging
• upping
• strengthening
• maximizing
• hyping
• skyrocketing
• pumping up
• building up
• aggrandizing
• spiking
• supersizing
• heightening
• supplementing
• booming
• developing
• jumping
• inflating
• prolonging
• lengthening
• stretching
• bumping (up)
• complementing
• distending
• elongating
• drawing out
• dilating
• protracting
• accumulating
• ratcheting (up)
• magnifying
• blowing up
• fleshing (out)
• amassing
• collecting
• racheting (up)
• beefing (up)
• following up
• parlaying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reducing
• decreasing
• diminishing
• lowering
• dwindling
• lessening
• downsizing
• subtracting (from)
• abating
• curtailing
• shortening
• de-escalating
• abbreviating
• contracting
• abridging
• compressing
• minifying
• condensing
• constricting
• cutting back
• retrenching

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of escalating

War risk premiums for Strait of Hormuz are expected to increase sharply as markets react to the escalating tensions, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, as shipowners and charterers have paused decisions to transit through the waterway. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 14 July 2026

In a rare appearance before Congress, Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan warn that escalating threats and harassment are invading their homes, families and daily routines, forcing extraordinary protective measures. — Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

Trouble is expected—what is a love story, if not a series of escalating tests of love? — Literary Hub, 14 July 2026

Their call comes a day after Rubio met with the Saudi ambassador to the US, and as regional countries try to stop recent US-Iran tensions from escalating. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

Having walked through factory floors, presented in boardrooms across five continents and coached leaders through every wave of disruption automation could throw at them, I am astonished at how fast AI adoption is currently escalating. — Dr. Adil Dalal, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

The New York Times, the Daily News and other media outlets are asking a federal judge to impose sanctions on OpenAI, escalating a fight over artificial intelligence and copyright that could shape the future of a struggling news industry. — ABC News, 9 July 2026

The blaze quickly grew to thousands of acres by the following day, drawing an escalating response from emergency services. — Matan Josephy, Idaho Statesman, 8 July 2026

The woman also alleged that Niemiec’s violent behavior was escalating. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026