ratchet (up)

variants also rachet (up)
Definition of ratchet (up)next

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratchet (up)
Verb
  • But maybe democratizing access is better served at the beginning of the process, not as a last-minute scramble designed to uphold FIFA’s primary goal to maximize revenue.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 10 June 2026
  • To maximize their chances to claim the Senate, Democrats want to keep Maine in play, and there’s no indication yet that stories about Platner’s infidelities or his tattoo of a Nazi image are destroying his candidacy.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • Since then, the damage has increased at an alarming rate, and many residents fear the end is near for the 53-year-old structure.
    John Ramos, CBS News, 7 June 2026
  • The recent strikes have increased the strain on the fragile truce between Washington and Tehran.
    Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ratchet (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratchet%20%28up%29. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster