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
  • 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
  • In Denver, stops for speeding decreased by 35% after the change, from more than 8,200 stops in the four months before the policy change to 5,300 in the four months after the change.
    Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post, 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 its dominance has ebbed, Tesla still has enough market heft in California and the US to lessen the impact of purchase subsidies on its business.
    Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2024
  • Goth’s mainstream profile tends to ebb and surge, and the past few years have seen a new wave of macabre media that seems to be cresting this fall.
    Judy Berman, TIME, 10 Oct. 2024
Definition of ebb
Verb
  • Prosecutors declined to press charges against Mangum for making false allegations.
    Jenna West, The Athletic, 14 Dec. 2024
  • At 36 years of age and with his play declining, was Wilson’s career over?
    Ben Morse, CNN, 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)

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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 Dec. 2024.

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