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

The action risks escalating tensions while the United States and Iran negotiate on a long-term peace agreement that addresses Iran's nuclear capacity. — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 8 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 incident underscores the challenges of deconflicting airspace amidst escalating drone attacks. — David Hambling, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

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

While many mild behavioral shifts can be improved through environmental adjustments, persistent or escalating symptoms shouldn't be overlooked. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 6 July 2026

From escalating conflicts across the globe to renewed debates over socialism, government power and individual liberty, this special edition examines the defining issues shaping America’s future. — Bill Wachsberger, Baltimore Sun, 4 July 2026

Temperatures on the ocean surface hit a record high in June, European scientists warned Wednesday, fueling fears of more dangerous heat waves this summer and fanning concerns over the escalating global climate crisis. — Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 1 July 2026

Brennan believes the league should prevent the situation from escalating before Clark suffers a serious injury and the WNBA loses its biggest attraction. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026