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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 If the Hormuz crisis escalates in its next phase and prices soar, Washington may face greater political pressure to restrict oil exports in the belief that doing so will cushion domestic prices. — Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026 The request escalates the legal fight over the controversial project to the nation’s highest court. — Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2026 The restrictions began immediately after the Taliban returned to power but have since escalated systematically, says Laila Basim, leader of the Afghanistan Women’s Spontaneous Movement, which advocates for Afghan women’s rights. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2026 Halligan said heat illness can escalate quickly in dogs, especially during humid heat. — Kara Finnstrom, CBS News, 13 Aug. 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
  • The kingdom has faced increasing attacks from the Houthis, who also declared a blockade on the al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea on July 20.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Nor would increased options out wide and a central defender, The Athletic revealing earlier this week that a couple of bids have been rejected for Norway international centre-back Henrik Falchener, 23, from that country’s Viking Stavanger.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of increase
Verb
  • The Pole accelerated on the stage’s fourth ascent of the Col d’Eze, but couldn’t open a gap.
    — Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Local residents said some drivers spend hours revving their engines and accelerating modified vehicles along Woodward Avenue.
    — Terell Bailey, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of accelerate
Verb
  • But after the single-component shots came into use, infections there began to rise.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • That was the evening Hilton, who rose to fame in the early 2000s as a celebrity gossip blogger, appeared to engage in self-harm during a livestream.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of rise
Verb
  • Investors have increasingly scrutinized the chipmaker’s expanding financial ties with major AI customers.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
  • New business models such as Walmart supercenters, Costco warehouse clubs and Trader Joe’s specialty stores expanded the abundance further.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of expand
Verb
  • The man — holding one bladed weapon in each hand — responded by walking down 41st Avenue away from a growing mass of officers, which quickly swelled from just a couple to at least 10.
    — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • As her pregnancy progressed, Kabita’s belly swelled while the rest of her remained gaunt.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of swell
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Ukraine has already augmented its air defenses around Odesa and other ports, with videos showing aircraft, including an F-16 and a Yak-52, shooting down Geran-4s.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • During the 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, an Ohio-class boat was called upon to augment B-2 bomber strikes.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of augment
Verb
  • One of the topics raised by Cullen is that Championship clubs need to find ways to boost income alongside restraining costs.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • To boost attendance this summer, Disney unleashed a bevy of discounts from coast to coast, for tickets, hotels and dining plans for the season.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of boost
Verb
  • Residents in some of those markets continue to raise concerns about drone noise and privacy and how those issues could hurt property values.
    — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Notably, Schwartzel was one of the few candidates in the race who was actually born and raised in the state.
    — Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 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 19 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of escalate for Spanish Speakers

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