variants
also rachet (down)
as in to decrease
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
news stories about the kidnapping will ratchet down as the weeks go by
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratchet (down)
Verb
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Plus, new windows are more energy efficient than old ones, meaning a summer installation can decrease your energy bill now and when temperatures drop in the fall and winter.
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Doubles players fear for their tennis future after being told by the ATP Tour that prize money and tournament sizes will decrease significantly starting in 2028.
Verb
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Historically, after that period, the chances of survival without a water source diminish rapidly.
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Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to insufficient or poor sleep, compromising the immune system, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diminishing cognitive performance.
Verb
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The reason is that the administration has shrunk the requirements for reports of immunization from states, changing the reports from mandated to voluntary.
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Just verify messages directly, use a password manager, turn on account alerts and shrink the personal data brokers keep on you.
Verb
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The autocracies are surging, and democracies ebbing.
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The district’s cash on hand naturally ebbs and flows depending on when revenue arrives, but repeated Cook County property tax delays last year have deepened the problem.
Verb
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After years of declining sales, American Girl dolls are seeing a resurgence.
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In May, during a tense commission meeting, a majority of commissioners declined to give her a raise after her first year on the job.
Verb
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Scientists expect auroral activity to taper off significantly by 2027 as the sun gets farther from the peak.
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The conditions were wet and and slippery at first, but the rain appears to have tapered off now.
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Cite this Entry
“Ratchet (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratchet%20%28down%29. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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