variants
also rachets (down)
as in decreases
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 ratchets (down)
Verb
-
Team productivity decreases across the board, and worse, disengagement becomes infectious.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025 -
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Every moment that data remains static in a system diminishes its accuracy and significance.—
Bill Waid,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As the images progress, the left pupil shrinks to a narrow black speck while the right eye remains normally dilated, giving the feline an unmistakably lopsided expression.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
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As the number of humanities students shrinks, the proportion of those who come from the upper 1% is rising fast.—
Liz Doe Stone,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But as children become adults, their involvement in athletics typically tapers off — opting to watch sports games from the couch rather than participating in them.—
Hadley Hitson,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling rebuked a Northwest Side alderman who expressed skepticism this week about Chicago’s year-over-year crime declines as the city girds itself ahead of a possible deployment of National Guard troops.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
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Creativity declines because there is no space for deep thinking.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Ratchets (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratchets%20%28down%29. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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