RACHETS (DOWN) Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

ratchets (down)

verb

variants also rachets (down)

present tense third-person singular of ratchet (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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratchets (down)

Verb

Cooking decreases some of the sugars in corn, such as glucose, fructose, and maltose.

— Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 3 Sep. 2026
Traffic on Guanella Pass also decreases significantly Monday through Thursday compared to weekends, Fulton said.

— Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of decreases

Verb

The governor’s effective yield to Harris diminishes the possibility of a showdown between two of California’s most powerful political figures in an election whose stakes are viewed by the Democratic Party as existential.

— Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
If those are important to you, that diminishes the credit's value.

— Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of diminishes

Verb

The district’s cash on hand naturally ebbs and flows depending on when revenue arrives, but repeated Cook County property tax delays last year have deepened the problem.

— Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
Participation ebbs and flows with the economy, dropping to 35 million in 2019.

— Bart Jansen, USA Today, 19 June 2026

Definition of ebbs

Verb

The proportion of people older than 65 is rising rapidly, while the working-age population that supports them shrinks.

— Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026
For example, if a project’s budget shrinks, leaders should explore what alternative approach could still deliver the outcome and communicate clearly if the outcome itself must shift.

— Ashish Agarwal, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of shrinks

Verb

Activity scheduling generally follows daily circadian rhythms, so more intensive experiences are clustered in the mornings, with a smattering in the afternoon that tapers off in time for slow sunset yoga or meditation.

— Jessica Ritz, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026
If gravel tapers off at the edges of your garden, weeds will easily find their way into the soil below and germinate.

— Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of tapers off

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ratcheting (up)

ratchets (down)

ratchets (up)

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“Ratchets (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratchets%20%28down%29. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of ratchets (down)

verb

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