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

Humidity falls throughout the day on Friday and decreases through Saturday morning.

— Rachael Jay, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
The rate gradually decreases at higher incomes and phases out at $53,250.

— byDavid Schepp, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of decreases

Verb

The governor’s effective yield to Harris diminishes the possibility of a showdown between two of California’s most powerful political figures in an election whose stakes are viewed by the Democratic Party as existential.

— Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
If those are important to you, that diminishes the credit's value.

— Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 8 Sep. 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

The proportion of people older than 65 is rising rapidly, while the working-age population that supports them shrinks.

— Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026
For example, if a project’s budget shrinks, leaders should explore what alternative approach could still deliver the outcome and communicate clearly if the outcome itself must shift.

— Ashish Agarwal, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 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

Indeed, in her devotion to sparkle, Pechman declines to probe too deeply into any of the industry’s more hurtful or exploitative dimensions.

— Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
At the same time, some longtime communities have seen Latino population declines, including Logan Square, Avondale, Albany Park, Irving Park and Pilsen.

— Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 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 24 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of ratchets (down)

verb

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