escalatory

English

Etymology

From escalate +‎ -ory.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛskələˌtɔɹi/

Adjective

escalatory (not comparable)

1. Involving or relating to escalation.
   • 1998, Paul Francis Diehl, The Dynamics of Enduring Rivalries, page 105:

     The pattern of gradually increasing severity fits with the general image of an escalatory conflict model.

   • 2023 May 28, Roula Khalaf, “Lunch with the FT: Jeremy Fleming”, in FT Weekend, Life & Arts, page 3:

     Is there an escalatory ladder in cyber, the same as with weapons of mass destruction?

   • 2024 September 25, Irene Nasser, Dana Karni, Helen Regan and Sophie Tanno, “Israel intercepts Hezbollah ballistic missile near Tel Aviv in first such attack”, in CNN‎:

     Israel intercepted a missile fired by Hezbollah near Tel Aviv on Wednesday, an unprecedented attack by the militant group that reached deep into the country’s commercial heartlands and marked a new escalatory step in the conflict between the two sides.

Related terms

• de-escalatory