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
The potential for an escalating trade war and other supply chain disruptions threaten to drive up inflation as happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said Wednesday.
—
Joann Muller, Axios, 5 Feb. 2025
House Democrats are escalating their attacks on Elon Musk‘s efforts to gut federal agencies and spending, trying not to get distracted by President Donald Trump’s pitch to own the Gaza Strip.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Feb. 2025
This advancement allows our vehicles to safely handle new situations dynamically on the road without the escalating costs required to train and build ever-larger models.
—Edwin Olson, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2025
Why This Matters The fires in Baja California closely resemble those in Los Angeles, underscoring the escalating wildfire risks across the southwestern region of North America.
—Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for escalate 
Joann Muller, Axios, 5 Feb. 2025
House Democrats are escalating their attacks on Elon Musk‘s efforts to gut federal agencies and spending, trying not to get distracted by President Donald Trump’s pitch to own the Gaza Strip.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Feb. 2025
This advancement allows our vehicles to safely handle new situations dynamically on the road without the escalating costs required to train and build ever-larger models.
—Edwin Olson, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2025
Why This Matters The fires in Baja California closely resemble those in Los Angeles, underscoring the escalating wildfire risks across the southwestern region of North America.
—Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalate
Verb
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The complaint data becomes increasingly valuable as insurance premium rates in New York on average have increased by double-digit percentages in recent years, raising the stakes.—
David Robinson,
USA TODAY,
7 Feb. 2025
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Finally, keep in mind that eating more beans is hardly the only way to increase your fiber tolerance.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The demonstration was organized by the service workers' union ver.di, with participants marching through the streets around 10:30 a.m. when the suspect's vehicle overtook a police escort, accelerated, and struck the crowd from behind, police said.—
Security & Defense Reporter Ellie Cook , reporting from Munich,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
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The investment helps to accelerate Mikuni’s goal of expanding to 50 locations by its 50th anniversary, Arai said in a news release announcing the deal.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacramento Bee,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The average tariff on all U.S. imports would rise from less than 3% to about 20%, Ashworth estimated.—
Paul Davidson,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025
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Between July 2020 and July 2024, Census Bureau figures show the state's population rose from 29.1 million to 31.3 million, an increase of almost four eight percent in just four years.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Look, $100 million on initiatives like expanding atheism in Nepal.—
Linda Qiu,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2025
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Immigrant advocates have pushed to shore up those protections with a federal bill that would expand visa eligibility for workers cooperating with regulators to expose labor violations, so far without success.—
Emily Alpert Reyes,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The station agent suffered a gash to her face, swelling and pain.—
Graham Rayman,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2025
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Dairy may cause a serious allergic reaction such as hives, swelling, and trouble breathing (anaphylaxis).—
Allison Herries,
Verywell Health,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The mid-2010s Instagram vibe is augmented by the floods of emoji or comments that crowd the screen as Belle and Milla drink in the attention or shrink from criticism.—
Angie Han,
The Hollywood Reporter,
5 Feb. 2025
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On the water, drone boats and robo-subs are augmenting the firepower of more traditional, more expensive ships.—
Colin Demarest,
Axios,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Such measures risk destabilizing global supply networks, straining reliant industries, and intensifying geopolitical tensions.—
Michaela Rychetska and Aissa Dearing,
JSTOR Daily,
13 Feb. 2025
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That controversy intensified after West ran a commercial during Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX that aired in select markets including Los Angeles and directed viewers to the Yeezy site.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
WWD,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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On top of its luxurious scent profile, its formula utilizes a mix of Brazilian olive oil and microalgae extract, two antioxidant-rich ingredients that support the skin barrier, boost elasticity and calm inflammation.—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
18 Feb. 2025
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Navigators are stationed throughout the country to help people enroll in ACA and Medicaid coverage and are credited with boosting the programs’ enrollment in recent years.—
Amanda Seitz,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near escalate
Cite this Entry
“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalate. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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