RATCHET (DOWN) Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

ratchet (down)

verb

variants also rachet (down)

Definition of ratchet (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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratchet (down)

Verb

As would be expected, oil demand was forced to decrease, to match available supply.

— Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
Only 15% believed the statements would decrease the patients’ likelihood of seeking treatment—even though that's what tended to happen in the researchers' simulations.

— Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of decrease

Verb

The term refers to when tobacco companies in the 1990s were forced to pay billions of dollars for misleading the public about the safety and potential harms of their products, and subsequently saw their power and influence dramatically diminished.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
The filter significantly diminishes elements commonly found in water that can be damaging, like chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, heavy metals, and more.

— Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of diminish

Verb

The 25-year-old from California opened the final with some swagger, popping four aces in the first game, but his self-assurance quickly ebbed.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
In 1945, 84 percent of federal outlays were on defense, a tsunami of spending that would ebb once World War II concluded.

— Editorial Board, Washington Post, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of ebb

Verb

Farage did not give a victory speech after declining to attend the declaration, claiming police had warned of a campaign to disrupt it.

— Reagan Yip, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
And the university, which declined an interview request about the new program, is not the first to offer content creation courses.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of decline

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

ratbags

ratchet (down)

ratcheted (down)

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Style

“Ratchet (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratchet%20%28down%29. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ratchet (down)

verb

Example Sentences

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