ratcheted (down)

verb

variants also racheted (down)
past tense of ratchet (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)
  1. decreased
  2. diminished
  3. ebbed
  4. shrank
  5. fell
  6. declined
  7. tapered off
Verb
  • Drought has led to decreased snowpack and water flowing into the river.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Crimes against society, including prostitution, drug and weapons offenses, decreased slightly, going from 278 incidents last year to 227 incidents so far this year.
    — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of decreased
Verb
  • The influence and interest of the United States in the islands must be increased and not diminished.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Then, there is the rise of China, which has shifted Washington’s strategic focus away from Europe and diminished NATO’s centrality to American concerns.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminished
Verb
  • Daniel de Visé Consumer sentiment ebbed in July, continuing a generally downward slide that began in 2021, according to the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index.
    — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • On SpaceX’s first day of trading, Wood’s Ark invested about half a billion in SpaceX, and has purchased more as the price has ebbed since its opening day.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 13 July 2026
Definition of ebbed
Verb
  • That debt has not shrunk to match the smaller population now paying for it.
    — Lisa Nee, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • That is the uncomfortable reading for the Western and Japanese incumbents still counting on combustion sales in China, whose presence in the top ten has shrunk to one aging gasoline sedan.
    — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of shrank
Verb
  • The return to form is all the more stunning given that book sales overall are barely rising, and Amazon, which nearly felled Barnes & Noble in the 2010s, is still a threat.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Each measures 500 square feet, with its walls, ceilings, and timber beams made from pine trees felled on site.
    — Madeline Bilis, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of fell
Verb
  • Quinn declined, however, to move Coleman earlier in camp when starting center Nick Allegretti went down with a calf injury, opting instead to use Julian Good-Jones and let Coleman focus on left guard.
    — Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The case was rejected by the District Attorney’s office in April 2024, and the Santa Monica City Attorney’s office declined to press charges.
    — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of declined
Verb
  • The conditions were wet and and slippery at first, but the rain appears to have tapered off now.
    — NBC News, NBC news, 28 June 2026
  • And several of the unflattering stats have tapered off a ton this last year, including sacks taken (27 in 2025, down from 62 in 2023).
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2026
Definition of tapered 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

ratchet (down)
ratcheted (down)
ratcheted (up)
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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 15 Aug. 2026.

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