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
That, coupled with his work consumption, escalated into an untenable situation for Brinkley.
—
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 25 July 2025
At least 12 people have died as violent clashes escalate along the Thailand-Cambodia border.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025
After a fight reportedly escalated between him and another person, he was shot.
—Samara Gerstle, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2025
From the game’s opening moves, the conflict escalated rapidly.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 25 July 2025
At least 12 people have died as violent clashes escalate along the Thailand-Cambodia border.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025
After a fight reportedly escalated between him and another person, he was shot.
—Samara Gerstle, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2025
From the game’s opening moves, the conflict escalated rapidly.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalate
Verb
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Decades of research and studies in agriculture have increased production across all crops in the U.S., said James, and cannabis can adopt those same technologies.—
Julie Weed,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
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Reportedly, the cost of this renovation has surged significantly over the past few years, with the budget increasing from $1.9 billion in 2023 to $2.5 billion by 2025.—
,
CNBC,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Our graduates will now re-enter the market faster, prepared to hit the ground running and accelerate their careers.—
Ryan Anderson,
Arkansas Online,
20 July 2025
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Starvation Much of Gaza has been reduced to a wasteland during more than 21 months of war and there are fears of accelerating starvation.—
Nidal al-Mughrabi,
USA Today,
20 July 2025
Verb
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Sales rose 7% in the second quarter compared with Q2 2024 and 12% in 2025’s first half.—
Jackie Charniga,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
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So a heatwave there in early 2024 that scientists say was made 4 degrees Celsius hotter by climate change saw global cocoa prices rise by a massive 280% in April that year.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Plans to redevelop and expand Whitefish Bay's Sendik's Food Market would put a new two-story store on a prominent Silver Spring Drive corner just east of the grocer's existing location, which would be demolished and turned into a parking lot.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
26 July 2025
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The 8000 was born after the engineers at GE Aerospace reconfigured the Passport’s software and McCullough’s team expanded the fuel capacity in the wings.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
26 July 2025
Verb
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Oral allergy symptoms include swelling and itching around your mouth, tongue, lips, throat and entire face.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
13 July 2025
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He was received graciously, and the volunteers mustered a crew to add his donations to the swelling stock of supplies.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
Verb
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The Royals must win games and remain in the playoff mix in order to keep their current roster together — and perhaps even augment it.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
25 July 2025
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This is among the greatest strengths of AI—augmenting human capabilities.—
Hank Boughner,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Verb
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The scrutiny then further intensified following a Thursday report from the Wall Street Journal citing a 50th birthday letter from Trump to Epstein that included an outline of a naked woman, sketched in marker, and Trump's signature.—
Mandy Taheri
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 July 2025
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The civil war in Syria intensified in 2014 as the PKK was withdrawing its fighters from Turkey.—
Ragip Soylu,
Time,
18 July 2025
Verb
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Trump has argued that lower interest rates would boost growth and reduce borrowing costs.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
24 July 2025
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The intelligence chief cited emails from Obama officials and a five-year-old classified House report in hopes of undermining the intelligence community’s conclusion that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to boost Trump and denigrate Clinton.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalate. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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