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
What proceeds is an escalating pattern of one-upmanship and sabotage, with each trying to best the other for personal reasons more than professional ones.
—
Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
The taxpayers’ study also raises questions about other city financial practices, including escalating overtime, unfunded pension obligations, lapses in infrastructure maintenance and a history of approving overly optimistic revenue assumptions in order to pass balanced budgets.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
As a result, escalating warning signs were underestimated, and opportunities to intervene were missed.
—Inaya Folarin Iman, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
The Nuggets stumbled out of Milwaukee with an unlikely win that probably contributed to escalating tensions between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks before the trade deadline.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
With the new Iran war consuming international attention and Israel escalating strikes in Lebanon, diplomatic pressure for meaningful progress in Gaza has dramatically weakened.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
In situations like this, documenting every interaction and escalating early is essential.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
In the end, both sides appear to have opted for closure instead escalating things further.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 2026
After decades of snubbing fungi as parasites or passive tubes, the escalating tally of their functions has led researchers to consider mycorrhizae a missing link in climate studies.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
The taxpayers’ study also raises questions about other city financial practices, including escalating overtime, unfunded pension obligations, lapses in infrastructure maintenance and a history of approving overly optimistic revenue assumptions in order to pass balanced budgets.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
As a result, escalating warning signs were underestimated, and opportunities to intervene were missed.
—Inaya Folarin Iman, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
The Nuggets stumbled out of Milwaukee with an unlikely win that probably contributed to escalating tensions between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks before the trade deadline.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
With the new Iran war consuming international attention and Israel escalating strikes in Lebanon, diplomatic pressure for meaningful progress in Gaza has dramatically weakened.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
In situations like this, documenting every interaction and escalating early is essential.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
In the end, both sides appear to have opted for closure instead escalating things further.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 2026
After decades of snubbing fungi as parasites or passive tubes, the escalating tally of their functions has led researchers to consider mycorrhizae a missing link in climate studies.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalating
Verb
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South Korea is increasing generation at its nuclear plants and speeding up maintenance at five offline reactors, with restarts planned in May.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Bolivia is low on cash after making more than $500 million in debt payments last month, increasing the urgency of reaching a deal with the International Monetary Fund.—
Sergio Mendoza,
Bloomberg,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The accelerating adoption of AI is also leading to mishaps.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The practice has often come under fire for destabilizing markets and accelerating sharp sell-offs during bouts of extreme volatility and pushing vulnerable companies into distress.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But there are concerns about rising ticket prices and soaring production budgets, fueled by higher costs for labor, materials and energy.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The group announced the new mutual aid market on social media, citing community concerns over rising costs as the motivation behind the move.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The executive director of Fisherman's Wharf Community Benefit District provided a statement, saying the wharf is evolving, new businesses are opening, and the area is expanding in ways that make Fisherman's Wharf more accessible and engaging.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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These are jobs not created, customers not served, communities that don’t reap the benefits of expanding local business.—
Walter Rowen,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
It also is used for bruising, joint pain, sprains, swelling and healing wounds.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Airlines are feeling the strain of swelling oil prices resulting from the Iran war and closure of the Strait of Hormuz.—
Justin Klawans,
TheWeek,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The job cuts arrived just weeks after activist investor Irenic Capital Management took a stake in the company and called for swift changes to improve its financial performance, including a recommendation that Snap cut its workforce in hopes of boosting the stock price.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Over the years, Hershey has taken a turn toward snacks other than chocolate or candy, boosting its brands with salty snacks from pretzels to popcorn, and diversifying its business to keep up with consumer habits.—
David P. Willis,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
New general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has said that augmenting the trenches is a priority.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
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This is all about augmenting its oncology portfolio ahead of top-selling cancer drug Keytruda losing its patent protection in 2028.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Escalating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalating. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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