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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The top three contributors to hydroplaning are: Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Aug. 2025 -
Gross profit decreased 12% compared to last year's second quarter end, Kodak disclosed, and its cash balance sits at $155 million, marking a loss of just under 23% since the end of December.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Aug. 2025
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The transit systems that give independence to hundreds of thousands of people living with disabilities will be severely diminished.—
Karen Tamley,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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However, prior estimates have varied widely, suggesting that thanks to faulting resulting from cooling, Mercury’s radius has shrunk by anywhere from about 1 to 7 kilometers.—
Sarah Stanley,
Space.com,
17 Aug. 2025
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Despite all the recent tech wealth and tech jobs and development growth, Seattle’s creative community has shrunken, a trend long predating COVID.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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One year’s worth of data isn’t sufficient to tell us about a radical realignment, and the Republican youth wave certainly seems to have ebbed since last fall, but Pew provides us with yet another blinking light on the dashboard for Democrats.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
29 July 2025
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Meanwhile, worries about other issues have ebbed in the past year.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Attorney General’s Office declined to comment on the complaint, which was filed in March 2025.—
Mary Jo Pitzl,
AZCentral.com,
17 Aug. 2025
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The Current declined to comment and referred all requests to the NWSL.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The analyst said this credit will remain in place through 2032 and taper off by 2034, providing about $250 million a year in cash generation from 2030 to 2035.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
14 Aug. 2025
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Each practice has featured myriad personnel groupings, with the offensive and defensive scheme installs tapering off as game preparation takes shape.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Aug. 2025
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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 21 Aug. 2025.
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