escalating
Getting more serious
Escalating describes something increasing in intensity, scope, or severity.
Conflicts escalate when they grow more serious: escalating tensions between the two countries.
Costs escalate when they rise beyond expectations.
The word implies a progression—each stage worse or more extreme than the last: The argument kept escalating until they were both shouting.
Increasing strength or intensity
- heighteningIncreasing in degree
- strengtheningIncreasing power or solidity
- deepeningBecoming more profound
- exacerbatingMaking something worse
aggravating · worsening · compounding · magnifying · redoubling · surging · snowballing · spiraling
Increase in scope
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- surgeSudden powerful increase
- boomLoud deep sound
- upswingPeriod of increase
spike · upsurge · inflation · multiplication · ballooning · mushrooming · skyrocketing · soaring
Armed conflict between groups
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- clashesViolent encounters or disagreements
- strifeAngry, prolonged conflict
- aggressionHostile or attacking behavior
combat · battle · skirmish · feud · dispute · confrontation · hostility · violence
Persistent apprehensive distress
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
suspense · pressure · strain · dread · alarm · disquiet · agitation · trepidation
amplifying
Increasing strength or intensity
- heighteningIncreasing in degree
- strengtheningIncreasing power or solidity
- deepeningBecoming more profound
exacerbating · aggravating · worsening · compounding · magnifying · redoubling · surging · snowballing · spiraling · ratcheting
expansion
Increase in scope
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
- surgeSudden powerful increase
- boomLoud deep sound
upswing · spike · upsurge · inflation · multiplication · ballooning · mushrooming · skyrocketing · soaring · climbing
warfare
Armed conflict between groups
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- clashesViolent encounters or disagreements
- strifeAngry, prolonged conflict
aggression · combat · battle · skirmish · feud · dispute · confrontation · hostility · violence · war
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- uneaseMild persistent worry
nervousness · suspense · pressure · strain · dread · alarm · disquiet · agitation · trepidation · worry
- growthgrowth, grow, growing, growth rate, increase
- amplifyingboosting, magnifying, intensifying, heightening, strengthening
- difficultyeasy, hard, medium, difficult, moderate
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
- accelerationaccelerate, acceleration, accelerating, speed up, speeding up
- acquiringobtaining, getting, grabbing, seizing, taking
escalatingde-escalating
Reducing intensity of conflict
decreasing · diminishing · declining · subsiding · abating
- de-escalation techniquesMethods to lower conflict intensity
- privilege escalationGaining unauthorized higher permissions
- rampant escalationUncontrolled rapid increase
- rent escalationContractual payment increases over time