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
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But Israel and Hezbollah showed no signs of decreasing their attacks Friday.—
Brian Dakss,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026 -
The less experienced Tyler Kolek’s playing time decreased as well as the squad returned to full health.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Quiet Maryam and mercurial Farhan—eight years apart—had often squabbled, gone through periods of not talking, but without her sister as a foil, Maryam was diminished.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The result, of course, is that both nations are diminished.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Miniature Wife Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen star in this dramedy about an egocentric scientist on the verge of a breakthrough who accidentally shrinks his wife, a Pulitzer-winning author who hasn’t written a lick in more than a decade.—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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When gas prices go up, consumer purchasing power goes down, effectively shrinking how much disposable income people have.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Immigration — long a pipeline for population growth — has ebbed significantly under a federal crackdown.—
National Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
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An outbreak forced farmers and commercial producers to slaughter entire broods of egg-laying hens, but ebbing cases in the second half of last year helped restore egg supplies, said Mark Jordan, the executive director of agricultural research firm LEAP Market Analytics.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After reviewing the case, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office and the Draper City Prosecutor have declined to file charges against Paul, citing insufficient evidence to prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
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The California Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 15, declined to hear Eastman’s appeal of a lower court ruling recommending his disbarment, essentially certifying that recommendation.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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What initially felt like a meteoric rise tapered off into a slow burn.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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Showers continue through the morning and will gradually taper off by early afternoon.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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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 18 Apr. 2026.
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