RATCHETING (DOWN) Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

ratcheting (down)

verb

variants also racheting (down)

present participle of ratchet (down)

as in decreasing

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually news stories about the kidnapping will ratchet down as the weeks go by

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratcheting (down)

Verb

But the population of mule deer has been steadily decreasing since the 1970s, leading some scientists to theorize that the newly resurgent wolves are relying on other prey, including beavers, rabbits and livestock, the 2021 report states.

— Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
On Sunday, there is a 15% to 30% chance of rain, with the chances decreasing throughout the day.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026

Definition of decreasing

Verb

Expensive eye creams have long been considered the gold standard for diminishing fine lines and wrinkles.

— Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026
Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to insufficient or poor sleep, compromising the immune system, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diminishing cognitive performance.

— Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

Definition of diminishing

Verb

The autocracies are surging, and democracies ebbing.

— Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
That number has fluctuated from a high of 115,000 in May to a low of about 16,000 on the day before this column was published, ebbing and flowing as tickets were purchased, new batches were released and FIFA (maybe) pulled back others.

— Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 10 June 2026

Definition of ebbing

Verb

In other words, just as demand for orbit is exploding, the usable capacity of some orbital zones may be shrinking.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026
His government also points to shrinking the gender pay gap and boosting support for women’s reproductive health.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 6 July 2026

Definition of shrinking

Verb

The first-round showers and storms will move eastward through the rest of Saturday morning with the activity tapering off in the early afternoon.

— Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 6 June 2026
For most movies, the opening weekend is the most lucrative, with ticket sales tapering off from there.

— Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 31 May 2026

Definition of tapering off

Verb

When algorithms see these frictions falling away, the need for a driver premium plummets, deflating the surge price.

— Christopher S. Tang, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
But the memorandum drafted between Kyiv and Washington on an early-stage drone deal appears to suggest those obstacles may be falling away.

— Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 12 May 2026

Definition of falling away

Verb

There has been a lot of hand-wringing about the declining population of Los Angeles County, which lost 54,000 people from July 2024 to July 2025, the biggest numeric population drop in the nation during that period, by far.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
For years now, Olathe Schools has talked about its problem of declining enrollment.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026

Definition of declining

Verb

On every metric—sales, profit, assets and market value—these bellwether companies, 787 from Asia, collectively scaled to record levels, most likely reaping gains from not letting up.

— Naazneen Karmali, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Rain pummeled the ground outside the tunnel, but the storm was short-lived, gradually letting up and then stopping altogether.

— Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Definition of letting up

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Browse Nearby Words

ratcheted (up)

ratcheting (down)

ratcheting (up)

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Style

“Ratcheting (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratcheting%20%28down%29. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of ratcheting (down)

verb

Example Sentences

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