escalated

VERB

increase, be increased

Synonyms

STRONGEST

expand grow heighten intensify mount raise rise step up widen

STRONG

amplify ascend broaden climb enlarge extend magnify scale

WEAK

make worse

Antonyms

STRONGEST

decline decrease diminish drop fall halt lessen lower reduce slow slump stop

STRONG

abridge compress condense contract curtail descend go down shorten shrink

WEAK

weaken

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The conflict escalated after Cumming’s office flagged potential fraud in a youth program and $167,000 in spending by the mayor’s office.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

Monday’s letter escalated her criticism and gives Disney potent ammunition to use in its legal battle against the FCC.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

It was later confirmed by Valverde himself and the situation is understood to have escalated on Thursday at Real's training base.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

Since then, settlements have escalated in both size and scope.

From Salon • May 3, 2026

As the Cold War escalated, some scientists exposed Henrietta’s cells to massive doses of radiation to study how nuclear bombs destroyed cells and find ways to reverse that damage.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot