as in increased
being at a higher level than average
for a time there was an escalated interest in the historical figure following the release of the blockbuster biography
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in rose
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accelerated
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 escalated
Kansas City Star, 12 Jan. 2026
Tensions escalated in Minneapolis after a fatal shooting Wednesday during a federal immigration enforcement operation, when 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Tensions there have escalated after an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Nicole Good on Wednesday.
—Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
On Friday night, a protest outside a Minneapolis hotel that attracted about 1,000 people escalated as demonstrators threw ice, snow and rocks at officers, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said during a news conference Saturday.
—Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Videos of those moments, captured by witnesses’ cellphones and posted to social media, show how the confrontation escalated into gunshots that left a mother dead behind the wheel.
—Frank Matt, NBC news, 9 Jan. 2026
A day after a federal immigration officer fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis, the case escalated sharply when federal authorities blocked state investigators from accessing evidence and declared that Minnesota has no jurisdiction to investigate the killing.
—Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
But things escalated when Jaramillo and a man involved in the crash, identified Saturday as Steven David Rustrian, 21, got into a fight that ended with Jaramillo being shot dead.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
While the decision by the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights is not legally binding, experts say that, if the case is further escalated, a court will be required to consider the Institute’s findings.
—Carlotta Dotto, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
One man is dead after an argument escalated into a shooting Sunday evening at an apartment complex in Kansas City’s East Swope Highlands neighborhood, a police spokesperson said.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalated
Adjective
-
However, there was no increased risk of liver problems, which is often a concern with statin use.—
-
In 1905 and growing in parishioners, the existing church created the Holly street location to accommodate its increased popularity.—
Verb
-
Rizzi even rose to associate head coach for two years prior to leaving the Dolphins after the 2018 season.—
-
Additionally, the December survey showed that respondents’ expectations of losing their job rose to the highest mean probability since April 2025, while the probability of those voluntarily quitting dropped to the lowest rate since July 2023.—
Verb
-
This trend accelerated in December as the flag state emerged as a critical shield against drone strikes and vessel seizures.—
-
America’s top campuses remain crowded with wealth, but some universities have accelerated efforts to reach a wider swath of the country, recruiting more in urban and rural areas and offering free tuition for students whose families are not among the highest earners.—
Adjective
-
Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures.—
-
Kirkpatrick informed the Kowalskis that those suffering from CRPS often show elevated levels of glutamate, an amino acid, which can be inhibited by ketamine infusions.—
Verb
-
Waves along the Bay Area coast swelled higher than normal, and king tides continued to push coastal waters higher onto the shore than normal Thursday.—
-
Sherrill will inherit a state budget that swelled under Murphy, who delivered on promises to fund the public worker pension fund and a K-12 school aid formula after years of neglect under previous governors, by high income taxes on the wealthy.—
Verb
-
The Pacers expanded their lead to as large as 25 points in the second quarter before the Heat finally started to push back.—
-
In 2025, the Navy expanded its training programs for future E-6B pilots, with courses now held in Oklahoma, where the majority of the aircraft are based and operated.—
Adjective
-
Never use your high-beam lights.—
-
The team had started the season on a losing streak, and tensions were high.—
Verb
-
The 2026 Golden Globes winners have boosted front-running contenders in an awards season already filled with Hollywood excellence.—
-
But this is a Martha Stewart production boosted by the expert medical insight of a top dermatologist.—
Cite this Entry
“Escalated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalated. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share