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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By April 2024, fuel costs peaked for the year before starting to decrease again in May.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
21 Mar. 2025 -
These systems reduce manual checks, decreasing staff needed for routine tasks without replacing them entirely.—
Chris Ciabarra,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Mar. 2025
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Overcoming The Fear Of Letting Go One of the biggest reasons leaders avoid delegating is fear that the work will not be done right, mistakes will happen or their value will be diminished.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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By shrinking the gold Mega Ball pool from 25 to 24, the odds of winning the jackpot will improve from about 1 in 302.6 million to 1 in 290.5 million.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2025
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According to the Pew Research Center, the share of Americans in the middle class has shrunk over recent decades.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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At that stage, optimism over Moyes remaining gradually ebbed away.—
Roshane Thomas,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
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The carrier had arrived at a naval base in Crete earlier in the week, a rare break for the strike group that has been in constant operations, though the pace had ebbed as Israel's ceasefire with Hamas took effect in mid-January.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Recent polls have suggested that dissatisfaction with Trump's handling of the economy is a key factor in his declining popularity.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
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Big Savage Mountain, Bear Pen, and Dan’s Mountain Wildlands all provide valuable habitat for our declining bird populations.—
Noël Fletcher,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As the intensity of this debate has tapered off over time, it’s given way to hindsight.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2025
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The main focal point of the resort is the hotel building, with an asymmetrical shape that tapers off at both ends.—
Katharina Kotrba,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
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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 Apr. 2025.
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