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
  • Narcotics Use Use of narcotics other than heroin (including Vicodin, OxyContin, and Percocet) among 12th graders decreased to an all-time low of 0.6 percent in 2024, down from a peak of 9.5 percent in 2004.
    Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
  • Demand for gas tends to decrease in December due to the frigid temperature, more remote work and the rise of online shopping.
    Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • The Yankees’ decision to go with Goldschmidt on a one-year contract is not without risk given his age and diminishing skills.
    Wayne G. McDonnell, Jr., Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
  • The district is set to ask the Metro Council for use of $12 million surplus funds to partially offset the diminishing pandemic money.
    Maria Leontaras, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of diminish
Verb
  • Put differently, the remaining eight are shrinking in real terms.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 26 Dec. 2024
  • My family circle shrank more this year with the death of my sister-in-law Karen, mom to my sweet niece, who's at her home in California.
    Brenda Looper, arkansasonline.com, 25 Dec. 2024
Definition of shrink
Verb
  • While the rate of consumers 60 days or more behind on their auto loan payments appears to be ebbing, not so for the balances consumers are carrying on their credit cards.
    Ed Garsten, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Boomers own the lion's share of U.S. housing, a trend that has broadened since the 2008 financial crash and the ebbing away of their parents in the Silent Generation.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Definition of ebb
Verb
  • In any case, a company with declining revenues, earnings and free cash flow may not even be able to sustain its current dividend, let alone grow it to keep pace with future inflation.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 26 Dec. 2024
  • Last year marked the seventh consecutive year of declining births, despite the relaxation of China's one-child policy to allow two children in 2016 and three in 2021.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
Definition of decline
Verb
  • By the time the precipitation tapered off in the late morning, some 2 inches of snow had fallen in many parts of the city, including Central Park, according to the National Weather Service.
    Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 21 Dec. 2024
  • This is especially true for NAND sold into consumer applications such as smart phones, where demand has tapered off.
    Thomas Coughlin, Forbes, 14 Dec. 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 2 Jan. 2025.

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