escalate
Grow more serious
Escalate means to increase in intensity, scope, or severity.
A disagreement escalates into a fight.
Costs escalate beyond projections.
The conflict escalated when both sides brought in reinforcements.
The word often implies a progression through stages—each step raising the stakes.
To escalate something can also mean to refer it to a higher authority: I'd like to escalate this complaint to your supervisor.
Increase in strength
- heightenIncrease in degree
- strengthenMake more robust
- deepenIncrease in degree
- magnifyIncrease perceived size
aggravate · exacerbate · worsen · compound · accelerate · ramp-up · surge · spike
Armed struggle between groups
- battleArmed military engagement
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- strifeAngry, prolonged conflict
- tensionStretched or strained state
aggression · clash · dispute · feud · fighting · confrontation · antagonism · skirmish
Decisive dangerous moment
- urgentNeeding immediate attention
- triageSeverity-based prioritization
- alarmUrgent warning signal
- evacuationRemoval from danger
911 · critical · mayday · SOS · priority · severity · protocol · dispatch
One who directs workers
- managerOne who directs others
- complaintExpression of discontent
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
- appealFormal review request
authority · ticket · support · resolution · department · corporate · higher-ups · formal
amplify
Increase in strength
- heightenIncrease in degree
- strengthenMake more robust
- deepenIncrease in degree
magnify · aggravate · exacerbate · worsen · compound · accelerate · ramp-up · surge · spike · snowball
rise
Move to higher position
spike · jump · rocket · skyrocket · increase · grow · mount · uptick · upswing · upsurge
war
Armed struggle between groups
- battleArmed military engagement
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- strifeAngry, prolonged conflict
tension · aggression · clash · dispute · feud · fighting · confrontation · antagonism · skirmish · turmoil
crisis
Decisive dangerous moment
evacuation · 911 · critical · mayday · SOS · priority · severity · protocol · dispatch · alert
supervisor
One who directs workers
appeal · authority · ticket · support · resolution · department · corporate · higher-ups · formal · procedure
- intensifyintensify, boost, amp up, amplify, enhance
- escalationratchet up, worsen, intensify, crank it up, amplify
- growthgrowth, grow, growing, growth rate, increase
- build upaccumulate, amass, pile up, snowball, intensify
- risingrise, arise, ascend, climb, go up
- size changesenlarge, enlargement, expand, expansion, shrink
- de-escalation techniquesMethods to lower conflict intensity
- Cadillac EscaladePremium large sport utility
- privilege escalationGaining unauthorized higher permissions
- rampant escalationUncontrolled rapid increase
- rent escalationContractual payment increases over time
escalator, escalation, escalating, escalates, escalated, escalators, escalations, de-escalation, de-escalate