escalated 1 of 2

as in increased
being at a higher level than average for a time there was an escalated interest in the historical figure following the release of the blockbuster biography

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escalated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of escalate
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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of escalated
Verb
That has escalated fears of a massive trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Brett Samuels, The Hill, 12 Apr. 2025 Trust began eroding in the 1960s, as the war in Vietnam escalated and continued to decline after Watergate and worsening economic struggles. Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 12 Apr. 2025 Perez’s family has said the teen was suffering a behavioral episode at the time of the shooting and that authorities unnecessarily escalated the situation. Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025 According to the clinic, the situation was escalated to senior leadership within hours, prompting an immediate investigation. Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2025 The situation has escalated quickly this week. Luke Smith, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 At the Township Theatre in New Jersey, the situation escalated so badly during a Saturday screening that management responded by banning unaccompanied minors from the movie. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Apr. 2025 While the administration simultaneously escalated duties on Chinese goods to 125%, markets took the broader delay as a sign that Washington may soften its stance — at least temporarily — on the more disruptive elements of its trade agenda. Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2025 The changes also escalated the trade war with China. Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalated
Adjective
  • Due to increased demands and depletion during intense exercise, athletes may need 10-20% more magnesium than less active individuals.
    Erika Prouty, Health, 21 Apr. 2025
  • His place in the side is arguably at its most fragile since Emery arrived in October 2022, weakened by minor injuries stifling rhythm and confidence, plus increased competition: first from Jhon Duran and latterly Marcus Rashford.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In terms of the design, the mix of rose gold and rhodium plating on the dial brings an industrial feel to the timepieces.
    Sophie Furley, Robb Report, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Novo Nordisk’s Fundamentals Over Recent Years Novo Nordisk’s revenue rose over 2x from 127 billion DKK in 2020 to 271 billion DKK for the last twelve-month period.
    Trefis Team, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The rebuild accelerated after Indiana traded then-two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis, along with Justin Holiday and Jeremy Lamb to Sacramento for Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson at the 2022 trade deadline.
    David Aldridge, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
  • But a rebuild can be accelerated a lot with a special player like Haliburton.
    David Aldridge, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Before banging Kevin Gausman’s elevated fastball off the right field wall for a fifth-inning double, Dezenzo had taken five plate appearances across the past nine days.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
  • These were much larger and more architecturally complex, and they were positioned in elevated, visible locations that were set away from settlements and pastures.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The White House did note that the tariffs can be expanded.
    Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Another commenter expanded on this, pointing to the food and utensil choices as dead giveaways of American eating.
    Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • With their flood of light and color, Yi Ming’s paintings have sold for high prices at charity auctions and have brought the artists invitations to design work for events both in China and abroad.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Israel has paid a high price to protect its citizens in its short 77-year history.
    Rabbi Steve Roth, Sun Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Or the state could create a dedicated fund for local infrastructure to be augmented in years of high income tax revenues.
    Bill Fulton, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Analyzing the legendary unicorn tapestries hanging at the Met Cloisters in New York (augmented here by a gory new panel that depicts the suddenly fearsome animals disemboweling and impaling their aggressors), Ridley concludes that unicorns aren’t nearly as benevolent as most people think.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Escalated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalated. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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