heated up
Became more competitive
Heated up describes something that has become hot or warm: The soup heated up quickly in the microwave.
More often, it refers to intensification—a situation, debate, or competition that has grown more intense or contentious: Things heated up between the two candidates in the final weeks.
The phrase can also describe someone becoming angry or agitated.
- piping hotExtremely heated, just prepared
- warmed overHeated again; unoriginal
- blazingBurning very brightly
- white hotHeated to luminescence
- bubblingForming gas spheres
boiling point · blistering · baking · intensify · deepen · heighten · slow burn · flare-up · broil · passionate · hot under the collar · inflamed · simmering · scald · toast · furious · escalate · enraged
heated upcooled down
Reduced in temperature
cooled off · chilled · frozen · refrigerated · iced
heated upcalmed down
Became less upset
cooled off · cooled down · settled down · relaxed · mellowed
heated upcooled down
Reduced in temperature
de-escalated · died down · calmed down · wound down · settled
heat, heated, heating, heater, reheat, heats, preheat, heaters, overheated