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
The hiring of Liberatore is the latest move in an escalating feud between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Musk, who used to be good friends but have turned into bitter rivals.
—
Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
Both nations' military deployments indicate that the region could remain a potential flashpoint, with further operations or incidents possibly escalating tensions.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
The incursion was by far the largest-ever of Russian drones into NATO airspace, a move that has alarmed allied countries and fueled fears the war is escalating and spreading.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025
The funding cuts amid Haiti’s escalating surge in gang violence added urgency to his visit.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
This threat is likely to continue escalating.
—Chris Dimitriadis, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Israel’s escalating assault on Gaza City came as Rubio arrived in the country for discussions about the war and the hostages.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
But posting on social media leaves a record, and in times of escalating political polarization, those declarations can be seen as damaging to the reputation of an individual or their employer.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025
While Stern has escalating competition in the in-depth-chat-with-famous-people arena, his show is just as beloved by devotees for its iconic side players.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
Both nations' military deployments indicate that the region could remain a potential flashpoint, with further operations or incidents possibly escalating tensions.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
The incursion was by far the largest-ever of Russian drones into NATO airspace, a move that has alarmed allied countries and fueled fears the war is escalating and spreading.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025
The funding cuts amid Haiti’s escalating surge in gang violence added urgency to his visit.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
This threat is likely to continue escalating.
—Chris Dimitriadis, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Israel’s escalating assault on Gaza City came as Rubio arrived in the country for discussions about the war and the hostages.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
But posting on social media leaves a record, and in times of escalating political polarization, those declarations can be seen as damaging to the reputation of an individual or their employer.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025
While Stern has escalating competition in the in-depth-chat-with-famous-people arena, his show is just as beloved by devotees for its iconic side players.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalating
Verb
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By inserting an extra biochemical cycle into a model plant, the researchers boosted growth, seed yield, and fat production without increasing water demand.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
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An increasing number of boys are lonely, isolated and confused, wrestling with the aftermath of the #MeToo movement and the expectations of rigid masculinity, which has been widely characterized as toxic.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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What was once a rapidly accelerating movement now faces significant headwinds, with both external and internal pressures threatening to stall progress.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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This innovative installation may hold one of the keys to accelerating a transition away from fossil fuels that scientists say is necessary if the world is to avoid the worst effects of climate change.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Both the governor and the secretary listed a combination of lower market prices for farm products plus rising fertilizer, machinery and labor costs as a severe squeeze on the farm economy.—
Cristina LaRue,
Arkansas Online,
16 Sep. 2025
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China’s economy showed further signs of weakness last month, with key data Monday revealing factory output and consumption rising at their weakest pace for around a year.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Now the Icon Class family is expanding, with three equally hefty sister ships.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
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An artisan pizzeria with South Beach roots is expanding across the state.—
Jason Dill,
Miami Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The audio-streaming platform has amassed a sizable free cash flow due to its strong revenue growth, a figure that has been boosted by the company's swelling active user base in recent financial quarters.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
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For this test, a doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to feel for swelling, bleeding, and any prostate abnormalities.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The coming flyby allows the chance for spacecraft to get up close and observe how interactions with Earth's gravitational field and magnetosphere influences and changes Apophis, boosting our understanding of asteroid physics.—
Andrew Jones,
Space.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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The active damping system, the company said, increases off-road speed while boosting gunners’ hit probability and extending the life of subsystems.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Like Seagram's glass walls that revealed rather than concealed, these systems must maintain transparency in their recommendations, augmenting rather than replacing clinical judgment.—
Dr. Taha Kass-Hout,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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That product was built from the ground up around AI and was possible only because of AI, as opposed to augmenting an existing product with AI.—
Sage Lazzaro,
Fortune,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Escalating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalating. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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