RACHETED (DOWN) Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

ratcheted (down)

verb

variants also racheted (down)

past tense of ratchet (down)

as in decreased

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually news stories about the kidnapping will ratchet down as the weeks go by

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratcheted (down)

Verb

Telecom stocks — Shares of AT & T and T-Mobile fell more than 5% each, while Verizon shares decreased 1% on a Bloomberg News report that SpaceX is in private talks to lease 80,000 cell towers.

— Paulina Likos, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
As technology has advanced, launch costs have decreased, and satellites have become more efficient, smaller and cheaper to build.

— David Zamora, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of decreased

Verb

Such a trend, however diminished, persists particularly among constituencies with close institutional ties to the state.

— Tamir Sorek, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
Finally, Nieves encouraged young salsa singers to pursue their dreams, even as radio and other traditional avenues for exposure have diminished.

— Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of diminished

Verb

But once the dominant slices of the emissions pie have shrunk, other categories with less potential to reduce emissions become important.

— Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
As transistors shrank and chips grew denser, the process called for greater precision.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of shrank

Verb

Griess, the superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, said the 430 trees that were felled were not identified as hazardous or raising safety concerns.

— Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026
Yet trees that took a millennium to grow can be felled in under an hour.

— Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of fell

Verb

But Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, widely viewed as a potential top contender for the position, has declined to pledge not to run.

— Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Aguilar declined to take the rest of the day off but then activated the fire alarm system after the meeting and tried to leave the building.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of declined

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ratchet (down)

ratcheted (down)

ratcheted (up)

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“Ratcheted (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratcheted%20%28down%29. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of ratcheted (down)

verb

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