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

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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
  • Revenues grew three times faster, sales costs decreased by 50% and customer service costs dropped by 80%.
    Daniel Khachab, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Because of this, experts recommend prioritizing foods shown to decrease inflammation, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fish, lean poultry, and healthy fats like olive oil and avocado.
    Brittany Risher, SELF, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • That’s a trend that’s stayed steady throughout the season to the point that any upward regression expected by the model has diminished.
    Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Maryland faltered for the first time, a loss that dims but shouldn’t diminish its impressive start as its ceiling comes clearer into focus.
    Taylor Lyons, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025
Definition of diminish
Verb
  • Cavuto’s exit also means the number of original Fox News stars continues to shrink.
    Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Across Africa, notably in Sudan, Russia’s shadow shrinks apace with the loss of Syria’s ports to relay supplies southward.
    Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Definition of shrink
Verb
  • But since Trump’s victory in November, Republicans’ suspicions about election security at all levels — including confidence in their own local election officials — have ebbed substantially.
    Linley Sanders and Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2025
  • Not much of a decline to be sure — only back to the levels of the mid-1990s — but the tide of democratization has ebbed.
    Ben Ansell, NPR, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of ebb
Verb
  • John Irving, an attorney for de Oliveira, declined to comment on Cannon's ruling.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2025
  • However, the state’s herd sizes had been declining for years; the dairy biodigester boom may have just helped stave off further decline.
    Kenny Torrella, Vox, 13 Jan. 2025
Definition of decline
Verb
  • But while red flag warnings will be in effect for Los Angeles County and much of Ventura County until 6 p.m. Thursday, the strong winds are forecast to taper off Wednesday afternoon as an ocean breeze blows onto the coast.
    Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
  • More was coming, though it was slated to taper off into Monday.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2025
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)

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Cite this Entry

“Ratchet (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratchet%20%28down%29. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

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