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
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Recent Examples of escalated
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
Overnight ground operations and strikes by Pakistani forces killed at least 36 civilians and wounded more than 160 others, Afghan officials said Monday, as tensions between the neighbors further escalated.
—
ABC News,
29 June 2026
According to court documents and body camera footage released publicly on June 26, 2026, the encounter escalated rapidly after the woman rolled her eyes in response to Carrico's questioning.
—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Days of public dispute over the terms of the deal — both around the future of the key trade route and the unfreezing of billions in Iranian assets — escalated into new military attacks after Iran attacked ships transiting the strait.
—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
29 June 2026
Oil was trading globally near prewar prices on Sunday — under $70 a barrel — even as tensions in the Middle East escalated over the weekend.
—
News Service Of Florida,
Sun Sentinel,
29 June 2026
The conflicts of interest have escalated in his second term.
—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2026
An argument escalated into gunfire Friday night, killing a man in Kansas City’s Lykins neighborhood, police said.
—
Kansas City Star,
27 June 2026
Other symptoms escalated slowly.
—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
27 June 2026
Verb
Netanyahu’s allies have already escalated their attacks.
—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
Overnight ground operations and strikes by Pakistani forces killed at least 36 civilians and wounded more than 160 others, Afghan officials said Monday, as tensions between the neighbors further escalated.
—
ABC News,
29 June 2026
According to court documents and body camera footage released publicly on June 26, 2026, the encounter escalated rapidly after the woman rolled her eyes in response to Carrico's questioning.
—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Days of public dispute over the terms of the deal — both around the future of the key trade route and the unfreezing of billions in Iranian assets — escalated into new military attacks after Iran attacked ships transiting the strait.
—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
29 June 2026
Oil was trading globally near prewar prices on Sunday — under $70 a barrel — even as tensions in the Middle East escalated over the weekend.
—
News Service Of Florida,
Sun Sentinel,
29 June 2026
The conflicts of interest have escalated in his second term.
—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2026
An argument escalated into gunfire Friday night, killing a man in Kansas City’s Lykins neighborhood, police said.
—
Kansas City Star,
27 June 2026
Other symptoms escalated slowly.
—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
27 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalated
Adjective
-
Hotels are also preparing for increased demand.
-
The need to complete that project has grown in urgency as NASA has faced increased competition with its space race rival, China, imbuing SpaceX’s sudden change in priorities with both financial and political stakes.
Verb
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Revenue at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, rose to $77 million from roughly $50 million in 2024, the filing shows.
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But under the new system, average premiums rose — pushing more people to drop coverage.
Verb
-
Video shows how chase led to deadly crash Instead of stopping, the purple car accelerated and sped through a red light, according to video from Joel’s dashboard camera.
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One of the officials told CNN that the Justice Department’s National Security Division was already preparing to look at some of the stories’ sources, but Trump’s stack accelerated the effort.
Adjective
-
The rising ratio of price to income, coupled with elevated interest rates, has put homeownership out of reach for millions of millennial and Gen Z Americans.
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Julia Giarmoleo, an EPA spokesperson, said the monitors did not detect elevated metals, but would not provide a copy of the data without a federal records request.
Verb
-
But to diversify its ranks, the Oscars organization has swelled in recent years.
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Brazilian broadcaster CazéTV had encouraged its viewers to follow Vozinha during the match, and the response was immediate — his following swelled to 1 million within minutes of the final whistle.
Verb
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Under his leadership, SMUD expanded workforce training programs, and joined the state’s Energy Imbalance Market, a wholesale energy-trading market that allows SMUD to buy low-cost renewable energy in real time, and sell excess energy to generate additional revenue.
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According to the agency, the Dodd-Frank Act, a 2010 law passed in the wake of the housing crash to tighten financial oversight, expanded its authority by giving it control over swaps, a type of derivative contract.
Adjective
-
Fujimori’s presidency marks a return of her family’s political brand to Peru’s highest office — a movement that has long carried a complicated relationship with the United States.
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The federal government and states have begun investigating pricing strategies that companies report have led to higher profits.
Verb
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And the rise of African soccer hasn’t just boosted the fortunes of African teams.
-
The set was boosted by a modest stiletto heel.
Cite this Entry
“Escalated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalated. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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