escalated
adj. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɛskəˌɫeɪtɪd// UK //ˈɛskɐlˌeɪtɪd// es·ca·lat·ed
adj. becoming more serious, intense, or dangerous. You use this to describe a situation that is growing out of control.
adj. characterised by an increase in intensity, magnitude, or severity. Often used predicatively after linking verbs to describe conflicts or costs.
The escalated tension between the neighbors is worrying.
The manager stepped in quickly to resolve the escalated argument before it affected the rest of the team.
The escalated costs of the infrastructure project forced the government to reconsider its long-term fiscal strategy, leading to significant budget cuts in other departments.
Usage
Often follows linking verbs like 'become' or 'remain'; can also function as a participial adjective before a noun.