escalatory


es·ca·late

E0207200 (ĕs′kə-lāt′)v. es·ca·lat·ed, es·ca·lat·ing, es·ca·lates v.intr. To increase in intensity, extent, or amount: tensions that escalated into violence.v.tr.1. To increase, enlarge, or intensify: escalated the hostilities in the Persian Gulf.2. To pass (a transaction or case) on to a higher level in an organizational hierarchy: escalated the customer's complaint.
[Back-formation from escalator.]
es′ca·la′tion n.es′ca·la·to′ry (-lə-tôr′ē) adj.

escalatory

(ˌɛskəˈleɪtərɪ) adjtending to escalate