escalatory
Progressively more severe
Escalatory describes something that causes or tends to cause escalation—an increase in intensity, scope, or severity.
The word appears most often in contexts of conflict: escalatory rhetoric, escalatory military actions.
An escalatory move raises the stakes rather than defusing tension.
Critics warned that the sanctions would prove escalatory rather than deterrent.
Proceeding by small additions
- gradualDeveloping slowly over time
- stepwiseProceeding by degrees
- ratchetingIncremental one-directional movement
- spiralingCurving in widening circles
intensifying · mounting · accelerating · compounding · snowballing · cumulative · successive · phased
Active armed fighting
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
- clashesViolent encounters or disagreements
- violenceHarmful physical force
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
provocation · aggression · strife · antagonism · friction · dispute · belligerence · contention
Organized distribution of resources
- armamentCollective military weapons
- mobilizationOrganizing for action
- buildupGradual accumulation over time
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
strikes · missiles · bombardment · airstrikes · maneuvers · retaliation · counteroffensive · invasion
Tending to provoke outrage
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
- bellicoseInclined toward aggression
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
hostile · incendiary · combative · defiant · ultimatum · saber-rattling · posturing · bluster
Punitive international restrictions
- negotiationsFormal discussion seeking agreement
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- treatyBinding pact between nations
- bilateralInvolving two parties
multilateral · statecraft · ultimatum · embargo · expulsion · rhetoric · condemnation · posturing
incremental
Proceeding by small additions
- gradualDeveloping slowly over time
- stepwiseProceeding by degrees
- ratchetingIncremental one-directional movement
spiraling · intensifying · mounting · accelerating · compounding · snowballing · cumulative · successive · phased · tit-for-tat
hostilities
Active armed fighting
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
- clashesViolent encounters or disagreements
- violenceHarmful physical force
confrontation · provocation · aggression · strife · antagonism · friction · dispute · belligerence · contention · feuding
deployment
Organized distribution of resources
- armamentCollective military weapons
- mobilizationOrganizing for action
- buildupGradual accumulation over time
offensive · strikes · missiles · bombardment · airstrikes · maneuvers · retaliation · counteroffensive · invasion · blockade
inflammatory
Tending to provoke outrage
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
- bellicoseInclined toward aggression
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
aggressive · hostile · incendiary · combative · defiant · ultimatum · saber-rattling · posturing · bluster · denunciation
sanctions
Punitive international restrictions
- negotiationsFormal discussion seeking agreement
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- treatyBinding pact between nations
bilateral · multilateral · statecraft · ultimatum · embargo · expulsion · rhetoric · condemnation · posturing · saber-rattling
escalatoryde-escalatory
Tending to reduce intensity
de-escalating · conciliatory · pacifying · defusing · calming
escalatoryde-escalatory
Tending to reduce intensity
de-escalating · defusing · dampening · diminishing · winding down