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.

See Examples For:

escalated

The price escalated from $54 billion to $72 billion and Disney was left with a debt load of $25 billion and mixed returns.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

A long-running dispute between cemeteries and bike-lane and safe streets advocates in the San Fernando Valley has escalated to become a campaign issue in the Los Angeles mayor’s race.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Demonstrations over worsening living conditions escalated into a revolt, marked by roadblocks that cut off major cities and calls for the president's resignation.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

Bare and other opponents escalated their fight soon after, filing two suits to amend the ordinance and reverse the rezoning.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

The rumors about Seabiscuit’s bad-leggedness continued to circulate, and the stewards’ anxiety escalated.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand