re-escalation
Conflict heating again
Re-escalation is a return to heightened intensity after a period of calm or de-escalation.
The term appears most often in discussions of military conflict, diplomatic tensions, or interpersonal disputes: Ceasefire violations led to re-escalation along the border.
It implies that progress toward resolution has been lost or reversed.
Armed conflict between groups
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- clashesViolent encounters or disagreements
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
aggression · violence · strife · insurgency · counterattack · offensive · resistance · skirmish
Increasing in degree
- worseningBecoming more severe
- exacerbationMaking something more severe
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
- accelerationRate velocity changes
aggravation · deepening · compounding · magnification · redoubling · ratcheting · spiraling · snowballing
Serious sudden danger
- flashpointIgnition temperature threshold
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
destabilization · meltdown · upheaval · precipice · calamity · chaos · quagmire · catastrophe
Excessive stretching force
- pressureForce upon contact
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
volatility · standoff · brinkmanship · saber-rattling · posturing · provocation · antagonism · acrimony
warfare
Armed conflict between groups
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- clashesViolent encounters or disagreements
confrontation · aggression · violence · strife · insurgency · counterattack · offensive · resistance · skirmish · engagement
heightening
Increasing in degree
- worseningBecoming more severe
- exacerbationMaking something more severe
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
acceleration · aggravation · deepening · compounding · magnification · redoubling · ratcheting · spiraling · snowballing · mushrooming
emergency
Serious sudden danger
- flashpointIgnition temperature threshold
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
deterioration · destabilization · meltdown · upheaval · precipice · calamity · chaos · quagmire · catastrophe · disaster
strain
Excessive stretching force
- pressureForce upon contact
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
friction · volatility · standoff · brinkmanship · saber-rattling · posturing · provocation · antagonism · acrimony · enmity
re-escalationde-escalation
Reducing conflict intensity
drawdown · cooling off · winding down · détente · calming
re-escalationreconciliation
Restoration of friendly relations
rapprochement · normalization · armistice · peaceful resolution · stabilization
escalate, escalator, escalation, escalating, escalates, escalated, de-escalation, de-escalate, escalatory