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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratcheted (down)
Verb
-
While the short-term base rate decreased thanks to cuts from the Fed last year, analysts are widely expecting the base rate to decrease at a slower pace in the New Year.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
12 Jan. 2026 -
When eccentricity decreased, the climate shifted toward drier conditions.—
Stefanie Waldek,
Space.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Davie’s successor will inherit an organization wrestling with its place in a media ecosystem dominated by overseas tech giants, as well as battling enemies closer to home, with conservative politicians and media proprietors wishing to see the BBC diminished during charter renewal.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The war diminished Iran’s deterrence capability and exposed the regime’s weakness.—
CNN Staff,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Fears of violent conflicts—continuing and erupting—across the globe haven’t ebbed as the year begins.—
Galip Dalay,
Time,
6 Jan. 2026
-
But a tide of enthusiasm ebbed away, leaving the shells of empty properties behind.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Concern about the iconic species of pollinators has been growing for years though, with studies finding North America’s monarch populations have shrunk dramatically since the 1990s.—
Drew Kann,
AJC.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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Fixed asset investment slowed, and then shrank, reflecting weaker spending in some sectors.—
Joe Ngai,
Fortune,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For about a month, nobody had any idea who had felled the tree, and nobody could work out why it had been done.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
-
The greatest damage appeared concentrated in the North Bay, where gusty winds felled numerous trees.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
24 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Since the mandate, neural tube defects have dramatically declined in almost every single ethnic population except for Latinos, according to Jaffery.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
January 12,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Wiener declined to answer the question in either direction.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Lastly, Vanderbilt transfer JaQualon Roberts has an opportunity to make an immediate impact after his play-time with the Commodores tapered off in his sophomore season.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Most areas saw trace amounts of rainfall, less than a tenth of an inch, before the showers tapered off by midmorning.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
22 Oct. 2025
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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 Jan. 2026.
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