variants
also rachet (down)
as in to decrease
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 ratchet (down)
Verb
-
This would decrease in the following months to reach a low of 41 percent in April.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025 -
Older people may have decreased appetites or struggle to shop for food and prepare meals.—
Paula Span,
Miami Herald,
18 July 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,
20 July 2025
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Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
20 July 2025
Verb
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The good news is that the potential to compound one’s wealth grows by the day as the world shrinks by the day through commercial advances that reach greater and greater numbers of people.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
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Trump’s shift in focus underscores how tragedy can complicate political calculations, even though Trump has made slashing the federal workforce and dramatically shrinking the size of government centerpieces of his administration’s opening months.—
Sean Murphy,
Los Angeles Times,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Second, ultra-low interest rates engineered by the Federal Reserve after the 2008 real estate debacle further boosted cropland prices even as commodity prices ebbed back toward earlier trend levels.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
6 July 2025
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The Bears won only one of their last 11 games, and trust in Stevenson ebbed.—
Phil Rogers,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The important storyline over those weeks is about untapped potential, not declining numbers.—
Lindsey Darvin,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
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This story has been updated to note the FBI declined to comment.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
Snow will finally begin to taper off by sunset Monday.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
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What’s more, even if it’s approved and eventually offered, the number of buyers is likely to be a fraction of what the White House has suggested and could taper off after an initial burst of buyers.—
Robert Frank,
CNBC,
26 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Ratchet (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratchet%20%28down%29. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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