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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratchet (down)
Verb
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This risk decreases as the storm moves away.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026 -
According to 2025 research from McKinsey & Company's Women in the Workplace report, women remain significantly underrepresented at the highest levels of leadership, with representation decreasing at each step up the corporate ladder.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
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While those shortfalls are diminishing, any sudden expenses, including those caused by factors outside of the city’s control, could quickly add to that burden.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
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None of that diminishes anything for each of the 1,248 players who will participate.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Lastly, never put a baseball cap in the dryer, as doing so may shrink or warp the material.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
12 June 2026
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When steel towns shrink Two decades ago the mayor of Youngstown, Ohio, Jay Williams, garnered national attention by pushing policies that accepted the city’s population would never return to its former peak.—
Christopher Briem,
The Conversation,
12 June 2026
Verb
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The entire sequence was set to a raucous jazz score that also seemed to ebb and flow with the combat's rhythm.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
11 June 2026
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That number has fluctuated from a high of 115,000 in May to a low of about 16,000 on the day before this column was published, ebbing and flowing as tickets were purchased, new batches were released and FIFA (maybe) pulled back others.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Ohtani declined a post-game interview request Thursday.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
12 June 2026
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The number of stray dog reports has declined in recent years.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Any evening storms taper off overnight, but the muggy air sticks around.—
Justin Lewis,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
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In some cases, patients who no longer wish to take the medication because of inconvenience or side effects can slowly taper off, eventually discontinuing medication altogether.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
10 June 2026
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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 14 Jun. 2026.
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