escalate

verb

ˈe-skə-ˌlāt How to pronounce escalate (audio)
Definition of escalatenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 escalate That information can then trigger a workflow that assigns the appropriate specialist, sets a deadline, monitors progress and escalates the issue when an exception occurs. — Michael Goshka, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Maryna Lystopad, 35, said her hair has started falling out due to the stress from escalating attacks and never knowing where the next attack will hit. — Susie Blann, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 The architectural design guidance starts with simple hooks but escalates to slim racks sized for pot lids, foil boxes and plastic wrap. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026 As for Canada, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu spent his time huddling with other counterparts, since a different official is spearheading negotiations with Greer amid the countries’ escalating trade war. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalate
  1. increase
  2. accelerate
  3. rise
  4. expand
  5. swell
  6. augment
  7. boost
  8. raise
Verb
  • Contributions would increase depending on family size, with a family of four expected to pay $500,000, officials said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Europe in particular appears vulnerable to increasing borrowing costs, with inflation in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain all exceeding analysts’ expectations.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of increase
Verb
  • New data showed that growth accelerated faster than expected in the second quarter.
    — Ramesh Ponnuru, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026
  • There are more conflicts today than at any time since the Second World War, and climate disasters are accelerating.
    — Jeannie Annan, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of accelerate
Verb
  • Inflation in India has been rising for 10 straight months, while economic growth has remained strong despite external challenges.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Regulatory concerns began to rise, with growing uncertainty that Netflix would be able to close its deal in short order.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of rise
Verb
  • The same architecture can now support another round of measurements from orbit as the constellation expands.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The episode ultimately reunites Constance with two of her children, Tate and Adelaide (Jamie Brewer), as the season continues to expand its connections to the show’s earlier installments.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of expand
Verb
  • In the early 2000s, the city authorities stopped the culling of baboon troops in response to public pressure, but that has since swollen the population by a third – to around 500.
    — Will Barker, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Soft, breathable and moisture-wicking, socks are designed to help improve circulation, reduce swelling and relieve aches and fatigue.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of swell
Verb
  • By definition, neither party enjoys a clear advantage in these contests, so both will look to augment their base support with the votes of independents.
    — Julio Borquez, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
  • As The Economist recently reported, this began to change as local sources were augmented by federal and state spending.
    — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of augment
Verb
  • The decreases come as the CTA boosted law enforcement on the system at the federal government’s behest, a move that threatened to withhold funding from the transit agency after last year’s Blue Line attack.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • To boost that dewy look, layer from lightest to heaviest with a light, concentrated hydrating hyaluronic acid serum, followed by a moisturizer and then a barrier repair cream.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of boost
Verb
  • Key justices appeared wary about the potential sweep of litigation, but torn over the complex questions of federal and state law raised by the case.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Boat trips to Capri and Positano are on the doorstep, as are hair-raising Vespa tours on hairpin roads and private visits to Pompei and Herculaneum.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of raise

Browse Nearby Words

erupts
escalate
escalated
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Cite this Entry

“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalate. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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