ratchets (down)

variants also rachets (down)
present tense third-person singular of ratchet (down)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratchets (down)
Verb
  • Some peptides are naturally produced in the body, such as insulin; which is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that decreases blood sugar levels.
    Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • As traffic in the waterway decreases, the oil market is facing the same squeeze that has taken millions of barrels offline per day since March.
    Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Verb
  • Ultimately, Marx clarifies, capitalism diminishes societal wealth for every one.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
  • Research indicates that even a single night of sleep loss significantly reduces helping behavior and diminishes activity within this vital network.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
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
Verb
  • Once animal spirits subside, margin debt shrinks and stock prices are pressured downward.
    Sean Conlon, CNBC, 15 July 2026
  • Horvath named those who are actors, set designers and make-up artists and others directly involved in production as being at risk, as content shrinks and prices for cable channels and movies rise.
    Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • Acuna’s show business resume tapers off in the mid-2010’s, according to IMDB.
    Matt Donnelly, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
  • After the strongest storms move out, colder air will settle in with the possibility of a few wet snowflakes before the precipitation tapers off.
    Gregory Padgett, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • An engagement score declines, a review meeting goes flat, a survey response comes back indifferent—and the team responds.
    Frank Auger, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • If a winner cannot be contacted; fails to respond within ten (10) days; is found ineligible; or declines the prize, The Athletic may select an alternate winner.
    The Athletic, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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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 24 Jul. 2026.

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