1
as in to increase
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 to accelerate
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 escalate
Technology creates visibility around these potential threats, allowing companies to act before disruptions escalate.
—
Jim Euchner, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
However, that was before Trump escalated his trade war, piling on still higher tariffs with the aim of compelling manufacturers to rebase production to the United States.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
As immigration has escalated at U.S. borders and amid high-profile stories of detainments, others worry about their safety and don't want to take the risk.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
Matty Crawford’s film so viscerally depicts the ‘too real’ horror of aging as an immigrant single parent contending with an escalating and overwhelming level of loneliness and discomfort.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Jim Euchner, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
However, that was before Trump escalated his trade war, piling on still higher tariffs with the aim of compelling manufacturers to rebase production to the United States.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
As immigration has escalated at U.S. borders and amid high-profile stories of detainments, others worry about their safety and don't want to take the risk.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
Matty Crawford’s film so viscerally depicts the ‘too real’ horror of aging as an immigrant single parent contending with an escalating and overwhelming level of loneliness and discomfort.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalate
Verb
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The reception for each volume of Love, Death & Robots has steadily increased since volume one dropped in March 2019, with the volume three boasting a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Sirens, Netflix’s big budget drama release this month, drops on May 22.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
2 May 2025
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Incidents are increasing now because people are hungry and people are trying to survive, and that is going to also have an effect on society.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
2 May 2025
Verb
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Currently, a shift in technology and user behavior might accelerate the conclusion of the agreement.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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Witnesses told police the SUV appeared to accelerate directly at the family.—
Bethany Brown,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Verb
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Iconic sportswear and footwear giant Adidas said Tuesday that the price of all its products will rise in the U.S. due to President Donald Trump's tariffs.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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But merely knowing that housing today is less affordable than in 1950 tells us little about why home prices have risen.—
Caleb Petitt,
National Review,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And the foundation was good, and Ray had to expand on it and had to work hard.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2025
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Wave has since expanded its family of petunias with brands such as Tidal Wave, Easy Wave, and Shock Wave.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 May 2025
Verb
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With just roughly 20,000 year-rounders, the island’s population swells in the summer.—
Lee Cobaj,
Robb Report,
1 May 2025
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Curcumin is used as a supplement and may help with arthritis, swelling, inflammation, and more.—
Regina C. Windsor, MPH, RDN,
Verywell Health,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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When using your own private instance of a language model, augment the information with knowledge items and prevent the model from using any external data.—
Cory McNeley,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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The Heat will enter a critical offseason with one draft pick, 12 players under contract, wiggle room under the punitive first apron and a mission to augment a roster that produced its worst record in 11 years and delivered the most dismal playoff performance in NBA history.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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At the same time, customer acquisition costs are climbing, lifetime value is shrinking and the competitive landscape is intensifying.—
Amit Jhawar,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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Since then, Israel has announced a plan to intensify its war on Gaza.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
9 May 2025
Verb
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Natural ways to boost metabolism can be fun and easy.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
1 May 2025
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The SpaceX investment has helped boost the economy around Brownsville, which is home to about 185,000 people and among the poorer parts of Texas.—
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalate. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
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