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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of escalate
The controversy escalated after a photo of the students was reported to school officials, who believed the cigars were real, according to the report.
—
Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
The protest escalated quickly, with many activists lying in the middle of the Council chamber floor, in between the tables where councilors sit each meeting — an area that is off-limits to the public unless otherwise invited by officials.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
On the first papal trip to Spain in 15 years, Leo has warned that escalating conflicts have pushed the world into a profound crisis.
—Claudio Lavanga, NBC news, 10 June 2026
The argument escalated, and the passenger shot Pettigrew before fleeing the scene.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
The protest escalated quickly, with many activists lying in the middle of the Council chamber floor, in between the tables where councilors sit each meeting — an area that is off-limits to the public unless otherwise invited by officials.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026
On the first papal trip to Spain in 15 years, Leo has warned that escalating conflicts have pushed the world into a profound crisis.
—Claudio Lavanga, NBC news, 10 June 2026
The argument escalated, and the passenger shot Pettigrew before fleeing the scene.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalate
Verb
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Baird added that interest in luxury homes has increased recently among SpaceX's mid-30s to early-40s employee base, according to California real estate agents.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
13 June 2026
-
Be careful when riding back downtown on a bike, as the hill notoriously increases cycling speed.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
Verb
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The left-hander had a loose body removed from his elbow in an innovative surgical procedure on May 6 that accelerated his return.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
-
In 2026, many believed the war might accelerate regime change.—
Julia Vargas Jones,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2026
-
Reality competition slipped to 45 from 50; unstructured reality rose to 38 from 36.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Ulbrich envisions Walker expanding his leadership role on the defense as well with Elliss and defensive tackle David Onyemata no longer in the building.—
Josh Kendall,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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The backstory What started as a private project, owned by former TAP Air pilot Gonçalo Pessoa and wife Patrícia Trigo, has expanded over the years to become arguably the most talked about resort in Portugal.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
Verb
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If emotions swell, step outside for a breath, then return with compassion for yourself and others.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
15 June 2026
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Alerts in effect for parts of SoCal beaches Southerly swells, or waves, are expected to continue impacting coastal waters through at least Monday, June 15, according to the National Weather Service Los Angeles.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Third, augment human capabilities with AI, connected architecture and long-term partnerships — with humans always in the lead.—
Harpreet Sidhu,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
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With Ethan Hawke's newbie simmering against the go-for-broke finesse of Denzel Washington's very bad, no-good officer, Training Day revels in tension, with washes of blue and green augmenting scenes where Hawke is bullied into getting high.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Verb
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The measure’s failure could worsen the financial outlook for both the city and school district, which viewed Measure V as a way to boost funding and avoid disruptive budget cuts.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
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Collagen-boosting peptides work over time to plump and smooth the appearance of wrinkles, hyaluronic acid hydrates and softens, and a protective cocktail of vitamins A, C, and E shields skin from daily environmental aggressors.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Half of the money raised will be donated to a local gun violence prevention group.—
Tammy Mutasa,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
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In 2016, Loomis voters approved Measure F, a quarter-cent sales tax projected to raise about $250,000 annually for general government services, including support for the Loomis Library.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalate. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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