variants
also rachets (down)
as in decreases
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 ratchets (down)
Verb
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Taking this into account, the probability of the event occurring under the alternative hypothesis decreases, making that scenario less likely.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
24 Jan. 2026 -
Reduce watering during the winter as growth decreases, and increase humidity by using a humidifier.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Jan. 2026
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Perception of risks diminishes, perhaps not entirely, but enough to misperceive the balance of challenge versus ability.—
Christopher Ferguson,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Typically, that ebbs over the course of the season, as players play together more often.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The distance between intent and executable code shrinks dramatically.—
John Sviokla,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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As the elderly cohort grows, the worker-to-retiree ratio shrinks, piling more pressure on the underfunded pension system.—
Bloomberg,
Fortune,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly once snow begins, and hazardous conditions could persist into Sunday morning before snow tapers off.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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By the time the snow tapers off Monday morning, New Yorkers could be left with anywhere between 8 and 14 inches of the white stuff.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Using rolling peaks, which measure declines from the most recent market high rather than calendar periods, the S & P 500 has gone 185 days without a 10% drawdown, a stretch that, by itself, does not signal an imminent correction.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
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Calls for repeal come with leaders of Balboa Park museums and other organizations saying that declines in park visits have ranged from 20% to more than 50% and that overall annual revenue could drop by $20 million to $30 million.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Ratchets (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratchets%20%28down%29. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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