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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of escalate
Beijing in October announced provisional tariffs on European Union brandy imports, part of an escalating trade row between Beijing and Brussels.
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Afp, Fortune Asia, 4 Nov. 2024
The balance between Chinese traditions and Western influence – smartly observed here, without the strongly nationalistic messaging that has become so common in Chinese cinema of late – plays a prominent role in the escalating feud between An and Quan.
—Richard Kuipers, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
Frustrated with Saied’s power grabs, Tunisians are beginning to acknowledge his role in the escalating economic crisis and political stagnation plaguing their country.
—Sarah E. Yerkes, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
The neo-noir psychological thriller is a great showcase for all three talents, especially as the tense cat-and-mouse game escalates to a startling climax.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for escalate 
Afp, Fortune Asia, 4 Nov. 2024
The balance between Chinese traditions and Western influence – smartly observed here, without the strongly nationalistic messaging that has become so common in Chinese cinema of late – plays a prominent role in the escalating feud between An and Quan.
—Richard Kuipers, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
Frustrated with Saied’s power grabs, Tunisians are beginning to acknowledge his role in the escalating economic crisis and political stagnation plaguing their country.
—Sarah E. Yerkes, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
The neo-noir psychological thriller is a great showcase for all three talents, especially as the tense cat-and-mouse game escalates to a startling climax.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for escalate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalate
Verb
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Weight-bearing exercises, such as brisk walking, jogging, and dancing, are great for increasing bone density.Jianying Zhang, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
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Her two top priorities for the district are fiscal transparency and increasing test scores.Hanna Kang, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024
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But when compared to last year’s unreliable defense that failed to close out numerous close games, much less help accelerate blowouts, what the unit is doing this year is a breath of fresh air in Boulder.Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
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The technology is also transforming medical imaging and has been helpful in accelerating the drug discovery process.Nir Eisikovits, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The Orediggers entered Saturday ranked 10th in the region and need to rise into the top seven in order to reach the postseason.Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
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Shares of the company rose more than 6% Friday morning before the market opened.Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Vice mayor Belal Aftab and councilmember Chuck Page, both members of the ad hoc committee on economic vitality, were in favor of advancing a pilot outdoor dining program that would allow Hero Ranch Kitchen restaurant to expand its outdoor dining with logistical support from city staff.Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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Marrero’s plan relies heavily on using new or expanded enrollment zones, or boundaries that include multiple schools families can choose from rather than a single neighborhood school.Jessica Seaman, The Denver Post, 9 Nov. 2024
Verb
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As the crowd of protesters began to swell at Aubervilliers, about a mile and half from the Stade de France, an image was circulating on social media of masked men in black holding bats.Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
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Gout Gout is a type of arthritis characterized by sudden and severe pain, redness, and swelling in the joints.Lauren Panoff, MPH, RD, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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This means installing lighting at multiple levels including ceiling lights, table and floor lamps, and wall sconces to augment any natural light.Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2024
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For those on social media, there is a way to track election results that might be helpful as a way to augment major media coverage.John Brandon, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The launch intensifies competition in mobile AI as Google and Microsoft (MSFT-2.16%) vie for smartphone dominance.Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
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These disparities in attitude will intensify as the war gets closer to an end and as Ukraine’s postwar status comes into sharper focus.Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The biggest prize for green groups came as voters approved Proposition 4, a statewide bond measure to provide $10 billion to thin forests to reduce wildfire risk, expand parks and open spaces, and boost water recycling, groundwater storage and stream restoration for wildlife.Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
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Trump's showing also boosted outcomes for Latino Republicans.Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near escalate
Cite this Entry
“Escalate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalate. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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