RATCHETS (DOWN) Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

ratchets (down)

verb

variants also rachets (down)

present tense third-person singular of ratchet (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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratchets (down)

Verb

Pyrad works by instantaneously thickening when exposed to fire, forming a char that diminishes heat exposure, extinguishes flames, and decreases the risk of third-degree burns.

— Derek Rose, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
The peak height of the histogram decreases as the number of tosses, N, gets larger.

— Dana Mackenzie, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of decreases

Verb

The local control is missing and the local responsibility diminishes significantly.

— John E. McDonough, STAT, 16 Oct. 2026
Pyrad works by instantaneously thickening when exposed to fire, forming a char that diminishes heat exposure, extinguishes flames, and decreases the risk of third-degree burns.

— Derek Rose, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of diminishes

Verb

The district’s cash on hand naturally ebbs and flows depending on when revenue arrives, but repeated Cook County property tax delays last year have deepened the problem.

— Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
Participation ebbs and flows with the economy, dropping to 35 million in 2019.

— Bart Jansen, USA Today, 19 June 2026

Definition of ebbs

Verb

Lake Mead and Lake Powell are the visible faces of the Southwest’s critical water problem, as the Colorado River — which supplies water to nearly 40 million people — shrinks due to a combination of climate change and human demand.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
That offset shrinks to only 38mm when installing a 280mm radiator kit.

— Thomas Soderstrom, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of shrinks

Verb

Activity scheduling generally follows daily circadian rhythms, so more intensive experiences are clustered in the mornings, with a smattering in the afternoon that tapers off in time for slow sunset yoga or meditation.

— Jessica Ritz, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026
If gravel tapers off at the edges of your garden, weeds will easily find their way into the soil below and germinate.

— Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of tapers off

Verb

The Salt Lake County clerk requests assistance to secure the polls, but the sheriff, unsure about jurisdiction, declines.

— Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
Steep declines across the tech space, led by Meta and the chip sector, saw Nasdaq log its worst day since June.

— Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of declines

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.

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ratcheting (up)

ratchets (down)

ratchets (up)

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“Ratchets (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratchets%20%28down%29. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of ratchets (down)

verb

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