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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of escalate
Those threats can escalate into real-life violence.
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Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
When Moritz de Hadeln took the helm of the festival in 1980, Cold War tensions were escalating, yet the festival continued to grow in importance.
—Steven Gaydos, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025
Beijing’s Pacific interest The pace of China’s deals in the Pacific has escalated in recent years as island nations that once recognized Taiwan have switched their diplomatic ties to solely acknowledge Beijing.
—Charlotte Graham-McLay, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2025
Over the years, the value of these charters has escalated dramatically, from $3 million to over $40 million by 2024.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalate
Verb
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Though Congress began its new session just a little over a month ago, its approval rating has increased among Americans, according to new data from Gallup.—
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Easy solution: increase the toll to keep more cars out of Midtown.—
Verb
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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.—
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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.—
Verb
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The average tariff on all U.S. imports would rise from less than 3% to about 20%, Ashworth estimated.—
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Heavy rain continued to produce serious flooding across parts of the Southern United States on Sunday, where rapidly rising floodwaters inundated roadways and spurred some evacuations.—
Verb
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Meanwhile, about 90 minutes from L.A., Hollywood power couple John Legend and Chrissy Teigen have expanded their West Coast property portfolio with a vacation getaway in the mountain community of Lake Arrowhead.—
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The role has expanded into areas like physical security and global technology infrastructure.—
Verb
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Cold exposure is particularly helpful for those who have irritable skin through the constriction of blood vessels, alleviating swelling and flushes.—
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Tannins swelling the structure and acidity bathing the flavors.—
Verb
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Retail: In China, robots are augmenting hotels and retail, disrupting customer and in-store digital experiences and enabling shopping on the go, increasing footfall and customer satisfaction.—
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But the rebellious grit, augmented by the game’s mature themes, does more than amplify an energetic liberalism during this 1995 period of revelation.—
Verb
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Such measures risk destabilizing global supply networks, straining reliant industries, and intensifying geopolitical tensions.—
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As Israeli forces advanced in Gaza, the IDF intensified operations in Lebanon last year, killing much of its top leadership, including longtime Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, and establishing an effective buffer zone in the south.—
Verb
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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.—
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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.—
Cite this Entry
“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalate. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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