escalated 1 of 2

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

escalated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of escalate
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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
Verb
Efforts to cancel the event The controversy escalated after social media posts characterized the event as a drag show specifically intended for children. Evan Moore august 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026 Floyd said the situation escalated after the unidentified device was fired. Paige Meyer, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 The encounter escalated to gunfire, striking multiple people, Cole said. Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026 For decades, an attacker discovered a vulnerability, a security tool generated an alert, an analyst investigated it, the issue was escalated and eventually someone decided what to do. Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Since Wright’s arrangement with LSU became public, the fight over his eligibility has escalated quickly. Joshua Hong, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026 But the dispute quickly escalated into a reputational crisis for the biennale, with artists from Taiwan and China condemning the name change as a betrayal of its founding ideals. Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Grain export disruptions have pushed prices up, after reports that tensions escalated between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea region. Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 Tensions escalated late Friday when Canada walked away from negotiations after Carney concluded the United States was demanding too much in exchange for tariff relief. Rob Gillies, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalated
Adjective
  • The company’s turnaround strategy, launched by new CEO Michael Fiddelke after former CEO Brian Cornell stepped down, includes store refreshes, increased staffing, and more aggressive pricing.
    Nancy Jiang, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The embassy warned that increased British involvement would carry increased consequences.
    Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Along with his younger brother Gao Qiang, Gao Zhen rose to prominence as the collaborative artist duo known as the Gao Brothers.
    News Desk, Artforum, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Lee, a Detroit native who lives in Texas, rose to prominence for his simple, yet effective food reviews.
    Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • China accelerated its domestic chipmaking efforts after Washington tightened restrictions on Huawei Technologies in 2020, cutting the company off from TSMC.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Prince was able to free the ATV and accelerated toward the deputy, striking him and knocking him to the ground.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • This week, Shin stated that despite easing US-Iran tensions, inflation in South Korea is expected to remain elevated for a prolonged period.
    , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The last night was when Belafonte unexpectedly found himself on stage with his left leg elevated.
    Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In 1950, only about 11% of Mission residents would have been considered Latino, according to the California Migration Museum, but by the 1970s, that number had swelled to nearly half.
    Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The rocks and melted water suddenly swelled the rivers in the valleys below, causing torrents of water that swept buildings, bridges and earth downstream in Tibet and Nepal.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Chinese manufacturers have expanded from areas including etching and deposition into ion implantation, inspection and metrology, according to Goldman.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • His father, Charles, had expanded the New Jersey real estate development business his grandfather, a Polish Holocaust survivor, had begun after starting out as a construction laborer.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • This isn’t unusual for the agency; in April, USPS raised prices by 8% due to higher fuel costs.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning that applies to more than 1 million people in San Diego County, mostly across inland valleys, foothills and mountains where high temperatures will approach or exceed 95 to 114 degrees.
    Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The continent's sweltering summer has meanwhile boosted demand for air conditioning and other energy-hungry appliances at a time when demand for gas, widely used for Europe's heating and cooking needs, naturally falls.
    Jenni Reid, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond the impact for populations the organization serves, Iyer said the promise of Daisy Chain Fields has boosted morale among NWLC staff during an extremely difficult time in America.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Escalated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalated. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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