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

Regular exercise also improves the non-REM phase (deep sleep in which the eyes do not move), and that also decreases with age.

— Laura Solla, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026
The team’s 40-man roster decreases to 39 with Monday’s moves.

— LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of decreases

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

The council is expanding from seven members to nine, which shrinks each district from roughly 120,000 residents to about 95,000.

— Adam Wood, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2026
The old twenty-to-thirty-point knowledge-benchmark gap has shrunk to three to five, and shrinks again at every open release.

— Stephen Messer, Fortune, 29 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

Still, the ratings declines are a problem for Fox and Fox News, which will need to turn things around at some point.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026
Rama asks Lakshmana to share the responsibilities of government and accept the position of heir apparent, but Lakshmana declines.

— Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of declines

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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 9 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of ratchets (down)

verb

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