variants
also racheted (down)
as in decreased
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 ratcheted (down)
Verb
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Parents should quickly seek medical care for an infant who has difficulty swallowing, poor feeding, loss of head control or decreased facial expression, the CDC said.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026 -
Symptoms of infant botulism can take several weeks to start, according to the CDC, but may include constipation, poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing and decreased facial expression.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Verb
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But by the 1960s, it was much diminished, and a later owner, Benjamin Swig, had sold close to 1,000 antiques and artworks to help pay bills.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
Life satisfaction went up, and loneliness diminished.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Who cares about a list of around 20 other schools on Milwaukee’s north side where student achievement is low, enrollment has fallen, and resources and vitality have ebbed over the last quarter century?—
Alan J. Borsuk,
jsonline.com,
12 June 2026
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Until last week, when Democratic patience with Platner ebbed amid the dual reports of his behavior toward women.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
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As the Spurs lead shrunk, the roar of the crowd inside MSG raged.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
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The gender-neutral short form performer category, always one of the smallest on the ballot, shrank to 11 submissions from 27.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Haas wasn't sure what disease could have felled a buck so clearly in its prime.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
4 Dec. 2025
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Yet Christine’s fate took a devastating turn when her father died, her husband was felled by the plague a year later.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Griffith, who declined to comment after the hearing, did not identify the man by his name or job.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Aug. 2025
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Kikuchi’s strikeout rate has declined from 32% last year to 24%, while his walk rate increased from 6% to 10%.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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That growth, though, has now tapered off.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
-
Then Zabinski did the final round after the snow tapered off late Wednesday morning.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Ratcheted (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratcheted%20%28down%29. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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