Antonyms of verb de-escalate

1 of 2 senses of de-escalate

Sense 2
de-escalate, weaken, step down -- (reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of; "de-escalate a crisis")
       Antonym of escalate (Sense 1)
      => escalate, intensify, step up -- (increase in extent or intensity; "The Allies escalated the bombing")

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb de-escalate

2 senses of de-escalate

Sense 1
de-escalate -- (diminish in size, scope, or intensity; "The war of words between them de-escalated with time")
       => decrease, diminish, lessen, fall -- (decrease in size, extent, or range; "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fell to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper")

Sense 2
de-escalate, weaken, step down -- (reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of; "de-escalate a crisis")
       => decrease, lessen, minify -- (make smaller; "He decreased his staff")