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Synonyms

escalation

Cultural  

  1. An increase in the intensity or geographical scope of a war or diplomatic confrontation. For example, during the Korean War, some Americans urged escalation of the war through bombing of the People's Republic of China.

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.

"Instead, he suggested a potential escalation of the situation, which is a clear negative for stocks."

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Morgan’s Jason Hunter pointed out that investors still have very real reasons to be concerned about further escalation, despite Trump’s latest comments.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

There's also a fear about what an escalation could bring.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

According to experts who study the psychological profiles of strongmen dictators, escalation in such situations is the norm.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

Since DDT was released for civilian use, a process of escalation has been going on in which ever more toxic materials must be found.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.