ratchet (down)

verb

variants also rachet (down)
Definition of ratchet (down)next
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)
  1. decrease
  2. diminish
  3. shrink
  4. ebb
  5. decline
  6. taper off
Verb
  • Arrange turkey pieces on rack, skin side up, and let sit at room temperature up to 2 hours to help decrease the cooking time.
    — Andy Baraghani, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Last but not least is Life Reset (around $18,000), which aims to decrease stress and rebalance the nervous system.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • Except in the extreme, legislators are loath to devalue local autonomy while also prioritizing delivery of state aid to diminish local tax burdens.
    — David Bloomfield, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026
  • While rain chances will diminish, clouds will hang tough through much of the day, and northeast winds will pick up slightly to 5 to 10 mph.
    — Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of diminish
Verb
  • How to tackle the district’s beleaguered finances and shrinking enrollment became a dividing line in the races.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Stagnant population growth that threatens to shrink the number of congressional seats.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of shrink
Verb
  • Teams that historically ebbed more than flowed reversed that.
    — David Turner, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The golden era of sports print journalism ebbed and began to die.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of ebb
Verb
  • The researchers found that PIEZO1 levels declined over time in both mouse and human bone.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The Indiana Supreme Court declined to intervene Wednesday night.
    — KIM CHANDLER, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of decline
Verb
  • Rain should taper off as the front passes, with drier weather following later in the day.
    — Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 2 Nov. 2026
  • After a weekend marked by consistent downpours, South Florida will see more rain in the beginning of the week before tapering off into drier conditions at the end of the week.
    — Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of taper off
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.

Browse Nearby Words

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ratchet (down)
ratcheted (down)
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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 8 Nov. 2026.

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