View synonyms for escalate

escalate

[ es-kuh-leyt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with or without object)

, es·ca·lat·ed, es·ca·lat·ing.

to increase in intensity, magnitude, etc.:
to escalate a war; a time when prices escalate.
Synonyms: swell, mount, advance
Antonyms: fall, decrease, lower
to raise, lower, rise, or descend on or as if on an escalator.

escalate

/ ˈɛskəˌleɪt /

to increase or be increased in extent, intensity, or magnitude
prices escalated because of inflation
to escalate a war

First recorded in 1920–25; back formation from escalator

C20: back formation from escalator

Given the potential for a cyber tit-for-tat to escalate, Obama has even more incentive to find a diplomatic solution.

It does, and certainly has, helped to escalate the crisis by having this militaristic response to it.

If Rwanda does cross the border in response, it would significantly escalate the war and humanitarian crisis.

The most important thing, he and these experts agreed, was finding an environment where slights never escalate to violence.

Washington, in particular, has been loath to do anything that might escalate.

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