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
  • Selling and marketing expenses decreased to $0.03 million from $0.23 million, primarily due to a decrease in sales revenue.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
  • Two items better known for cleaning swimming pools and moisturizing dry skin might help protect the Earth’s corals and decrease antibiotic resistance and pollution in the ocean.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • But now, arrivals have diminished significantly, and officials closed the city’s last migrant shelter last month.
    Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Black Lives Matter is severely diminished as an institution.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Definition of diminish
Verb
  • As their territory shrinks, saolas are forced into smaller, isolated populations, reducing their chances to find mates and maintain the genetic diversity necessary for survival.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • The pizza chain saw its international same-store sales shrink 6%, while U.S. same-store sales fell just 1%.
    Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of shrink
Verb
  • In short, Americans have more money to spend on fun because 2022’s inflationary pressures have started to ebb.
    Michael Foster, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
  • Despite this, violence by extremist groups, as reported by a different organization, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, has actually ebbed this year, likely because law enforcement has arrested dozens of members of these groups for their participation in the Capitol riot.
    Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024
Definition of ebb
Verb
  • By contrast, prices for televisions 75 inches through 96 inches have declined 6% with sales up just 19% this year.
    Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
  • San Jose police confirmed the arrest Tuesday evening but otherwise declined to comment on the underlying investigation, and announced that a news conference on the case would be held Wednesday.
    Devan Patel, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of decline
Verb
  • Increasing Daytime Movement Whitetail research shows that daytime movement gradually increases throughout summer and fall, peaks during the rut, and tapers off into the late season.
    Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 24 Oct. 2024
  • For her monologue, Grande wore a magenta strapless dress complete with a corseted top and an extreme sweetheart neckline, which flared out into a voluminous tulip skirt that tapered off at her calves.
    Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 13 Oct. 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 21 Nov. 2024.

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