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
  • In a further wrinkle, the researchers found that warmer weather increased mouse numbers but decreased nymphal ticks.
    — Clarissa Brincat, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Since then, available retail space has declined by about 13% with the restructuring of the Water Tower Place, and store vacancies have decreased by 2%, according to Gregory Kirsch, managing broker for Kirsch agencies.
    — Jane Miller, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of decreased
Verb
  • Invite more than four, the regular season would be severely diminished and the very structure of the game would crumble.
    — Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 9 Nov. 2026
  • The political craftsmanship lies in making an agreement sufficiently appealing that neither side feels diminished by wearing it.
    — Anna Rahmanan, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of diminished
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 ebbed
Verb
  • Whether DeSantis’ redistricting effort delivers for Republicans Florida’s new congressional maps shrunk the number of Democratic-leaning seats from eight to four.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The actuators push a piston with pressurized oil, much like the arm of an excavator, only shrunk down.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of shrank
Verb
  • Extramarital affairs and relationships that were not disclosed to board members have felled CEOs at companies as prominent as Boeing and McDonald’s in the past.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Collins faces Democrat Troy Jackson, a former Maine Senate leader who stepped in to the race after scandals felled nominee Graham Platner in July.
    — Justin Papp,Caleigh Keating,Garrett Downs,Kevin Breuninger,Dan Mangan, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of fell
Verb
  • In the most recent year of accounting, homelessness increased slightly in the city but declined significantly in Raman’s council district.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The Post also sought comment on Alex’s allegations; when the agency asked for Alex’s personal information, the newspaper declined to provide it, citing his safety concerns.
    — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of declined
Verb
  • Eventually, the big infusions of sand that had built up Southern California’s famous beaches tapered off.
    — Cindy Carcamo, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Nov. 2026
  • As the rains tapered off and the skies cleared, Paterson's annual Dominican parade stepped off Sunday afternoon, though with a slight delay.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Sep. 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 14 Nov. 2026.

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