escalation

Cultural  

1. An increase in the intensity or geographical scope of a war or diplomatic confrontation. For example, during the Korean War, some Americans urged escalation of the war through bombing of the People's Republic of China.

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Explanation

An escalation is an increase or growth. When there's an escalation in tension between two countries, it means that things have become much more strained between them. An escalation in Christmas tree prices means that your holiday decor will be more expensive this year, and an escalation of violence in a particular country will probably keep you from traveling there until things calm down. When something gets bigger or more intense, there's an escalation. The word comes from the verb escalate, which in turn is a back-formation from escalator. The Latin root of all three words is scala, or "ladder."

Example Sentences

It’s a news-based index that measures “the threat, realization and escalation of adverse events associated with wars, terrorism and any tensions among states and political actors that affect the peaceful course of international relations.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

“Both domestic and foreign investors have shifted their attention from the risks of military escalation in the Middle East back to the remarkably consistent resilience of the U.S. economy,” he added.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

Currently, tight market balances alone are sufficient to sustain crude at historical stress levels, even without a worst-case conflict escalation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

The escalation comes after Pakistan-facilitated peace talks over the weekend between the U.S. and Iran failed to reach a resolution.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

President Harry Truman countered with the next major escalation.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• acceleration