escalate | Definition of escalate

Synonyms and Antonyms of escalate

1 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 of escalate

accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon (also bourgeon), climb, enlarge, expand, gain, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax

Words Related to escalate

jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge

heighten, intensify, redouble

blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up)

crescendo, crest, peak

Antonyms of escalate

contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

2 to make greater in size, amount, or number

the president promised to escalate the government's program to combat the dreaded disease

Synonyms of escalate

accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, build up, compound, enlarge, expand, extend, hype, increase, multiply, pump up, raise, stoke, supersize, swell, up

Words Related to escalate

boom, jump, skyrocket, spike

bump (up), ratchet (up) also rachet (up)

blow up, dilate, distend, inflate

draw out, elongate, flesh (out), lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch

develop, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify

complement, supplement

beef (up), reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen

accumulate, amass, collect

follow up, parlay

Near Antonyms of escalate

abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten

compress, condense, constrict, contract

cut back, retrench

Antonyms of escalate

abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from)