Anything, so that the niggling fear didn't escalate into full-fledged terror.
As they begin to wonder about Mr. Greenspan's power, investors' fears can only escalate.
The fear within Maria escalated to terror.
His own fears had escalated because he had let them run haywire; like Janie.
Her personal fear was escalating alongside the terrible sickness she was beginning to feel because of Cyl's revelations.
When Pascal removed his shades my fear escalated.
When night overtook us, the fear and loneliness escalated.
As the jaguar passes within a few feet of her hide, her fear and exhilaration escalates.
After reading the book, Colleen's fear for her family's safety escalated.
Such fears had escalated after an employment report on July 5 showed unexpected strength in the economy.