variants
also rachet (down)
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratchet (down)
Verb
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Last year, the number of officers killed decreased, both in terms of officers killed as a result of felonious acts and those killed accidentally.—
Kenneth D. Robinson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026 -
Anyone can get Vibrio, but those with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, thalassemia, receiving immune-suppressing therapy, taking medicine to decrease stomach acid or having recently had stomach surgery are at high risk of severe complications.—
Eva Flowe
May 1,
Charlotte Observer,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Even the most ambitious stories often felt exhausted by the third installment, with diminishing creative and financial returns.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
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Israel has repeatedly criticized the Lebanese government for not doing enough to diminish Hezbollah’s capabilities.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Nearly all those funds have been used to shrink pension debt or build reserves.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
1 May 2026
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The active material, a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE), is a key polymer that physically shrinks when heated.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
Verb
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That homecoming hasn’t exactly been a straight line for Alvarado, whose playing time has ebbed and flowed since his arrival in early February.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
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With both games kicking off at 3pm UK time, the news of each other’s fortunes was drip-fed to the fans — via smartphones rather than the transistor radios of the past — around Molineux and the London Stadium as emotions ebbed and flowed.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bovino, who led much of the immigration enforcement operation in Chicago and the suburbs, as well as in Minnesota before retiring this year amid criticism, declined to appear before the commission.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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The Salt Lake County district attorney’s office and the Draper City prosecutor both declined to file charges against Paul in April, citing insufficient evidence to prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
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There may be some consolation in the fact that some housing experts, like Cotality's chief economist, Selma Hepp, think that the recent period of skyrocketing housing costs may be tapering off.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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Showers will gradually taper off early Sunday morning,.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
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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 2 May. 2026.
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