variants
or less commonly rachet
1
: a mechanism that consists of a bar or wheel having inclined teeth into which a pawl drops so that motion can be imparted to the wheel or bar, governed, or prevented and that is used in a hand tool (such as a wrench or screwdriver) to allow effective motion in one direction only
2
: a pawl or detent for holding or propelling a toothed wheel
variants
or less commonly rachet
ratcheted also racheted; ratcheting also racheting; ratchets also rachets
: to cause to move by steps or degrees
—usually used with up or down
tried to ratchet down the debt
: to proceed by steps or degrees
Synonyms
Examples of ratchet in a Sentence
Verb
news stories about the kidnapping will ratchet down as the weeks go by
Recent Examples on the Web
Dan Primack, Axios, 2 Dec. 2024
This ratchet screwdriver multitool is TrekGear's third Kickstarter – following success with a safety razor and a utility knife – and is reported to have been 12 months in development.
—Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 24 Dec. 2024
Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2025
Editors’ Picks One problem for insurers and Californians: Unlike hurricanes, wildfires are harder to model, ratcheting up the risk.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ratchet 
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Noun
But given the ratchet's compounding nature, that could change in a hurry were ServiceTitan to stay private longer.
—Dan Primack, Axios, 2 Dec. 2024
This ratchet screwdriver multitool is TrekGear's third Kickstarter – following success with a safety razor and a utility knife – and is reported to have been 12 months in development.
—Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
The Biden administration has sought to ratchet up pressure on Russia and dispense aid to Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2025
Editors’ Picks One problem for insurers and Californians: Unlike hurricanes, wildfires are harder to model, ratcheting up the risk.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ratchet
Dictionary Entries Near ratchet
Cite this Entry
“Ratchet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratchet. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
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