ratchet (down)

verb

variants also rachet (down)
Definition of ratchet (down)next
as in to decrease
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratchet (down)
  1. decrease
  2. diminish
  3. shrink
  4. ebb
  5. decline
  6. taper off
Verb
  • Federal grant aid per student decreased nearly 4% in the same period, which is in line with decreases in enrollment.
    Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 9 Dec. 2024
  • White Evangelicals also decreased from 28 percent of the electorate in 2020 to 23 percent in 2024.
    Mark Tooley, National Review, 8 Dec. 2024
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • Climate change exacerbates the threats with rising temperatures disrupting migration patterns and diminishing the availability of milkweed, the monarch caterpillar's essential food source.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Helping to model that behavior and normalizing outreach for support is a great way to diminish the stigma.
    Subha Barry, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of diminish
Verb
  • Its nearly $475 billion market cap has shrunk since Thompson’s death on Dec. 4.
    Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Second, The stigma around layoffs can drive businesses to seek less noticeable methods to shrink their workforce.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Definition of shrink
Verb
  • While the rate of consumers 60 days or more behind on their auto loan payments appears to be ebbing, not so for the balances consumers are carrying on their credit cards.
    Ed Garsten, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Boomers own the lion's share of U.S. housing, a trend that has broadened since the 2008 financial crash and the ebbing away of their parents in the Silent Generation.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Definition of ebb
Verb
  • At 36 years of age and with his play declining, was Wilson’s career over?
    Ben Morse, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
  • Prosecutors declined to press charges against Mangum for making false allegations.
    Jenna West, The Athletic, 14 Dec. 2024
Definition of decline
Verb
  • With fewer solar storms in the weeks following the equinox, auroral activity naturally tapered off.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
  • Precipitation chances taper off by Thursday morning.
    Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2024
Definition of taper off
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near ratchet (down)

ratbags

ratchet (down)

ratcheted (down)

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Ratchet (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratchet%20%28down%29. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Point of View: It's Personal

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
naughty or nice
Are you naughty or nice? Quiz He's making a quiz, and checking it twice...