variants
also racheted (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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratcheted (down)
Verb
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Last year, the number of officers killed decreased, both in terms of officers killed as a result of felonious acts and those killed accidentally.—
Kenneth D. Robinson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026 -
In addition, overall passenger numbers decreased 20% after Spirit exited a route, which indicates that rival airlines did not immediately step forward to fill the void.—
David Lyons,
Sun Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The unlikely union lasted 10 years and the mutual admiration between the two famed figures never diminished.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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While the immediate flood threat has diminished, rain is expected to persist along the Mid-Atlantic coast.—
Francie Ebert,
NBC news,
7 May 2026
Verb
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That homecoming hasn’t exactly been a straight line for Alvarado, whose playing time has ebbed and flowed since his arrival in early February.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
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With both games kicking off at 3pm UK time, the news of each other’s fortunes was drip-fed to the fans — via smartphones rather than the transistor radios of the past — around Molineux and the London Stadium as emotions ebbed and flowed.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Bulls lag significantly behind their peers in the investment toward an analytics department, which shrank to one of the smallest in the league during the final year of Karnišovas’ reign.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
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Though the film funds have now finally started to flow again, the pot has been shrunk by the government from a total €700 million ($822 million) in 2025 to €610 million ($716 million) in 2026, and €500 ($585 million) earmarked for 2027.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
6 May 2026
Verb
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But they were felled by poor shooting Friday, making just 35% overall and were particularly bad from long range.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
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But before he was felled at age 68 by a heart attack, Joiner had shared what was in the briefcase with the lead Louisiana State Police investigator on the case, Stefan Montgomery, Joiner's son and the LSP confirmed.—
Stephanie Gosk,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kazarian declined to comment further on Friday afternoon.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
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The Padres placed Cruz on the restricted list in mid-March and have declined further comment.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The 2025 event in Virginia helped bolster the coin's value for a time, but interest in the currency again tapered off.—
Lucien Bruggeman,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
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What initially felt like a meteoric rise tapered off into a slow burn.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Ratcheted (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratcheted%20%28down%29. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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