variants
also racheted (down)
as in decreased
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 ratcheted (down)
Verb
-
In 2024, that decreased to 20 percent.—
Ashley Wu,
New York Times,
18 May 2026 -
School enrollment numbers have decreased markedly in Connecticut in the past two years.—
Sasha Allen,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Another theory suggests regulatory changes in China a few years ago appear to have diminished the availability of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl.—
Mike Stobbe,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
-
The roles of China and Russia, as Iran’s allies, are strengthened; the role of the United States, substantially diminished.—
Robert Kagan,
The Atlantic,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
By the end of the year, the epidemic in Chihuahua state finally ebbed.—
Mary Beth Sheridan,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
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And his fascination with Xi hasn’t ebbed.—
Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The 1922 agreement that divided the water among the states doled out more than was actually flowing, and since 2000, the river has shrunk dramatically as climate change intensifies dry conditions in the Rocky Mountains.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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Betz also pointed to Michigan's lower birth rates, which have shrunk the pool of 18-year-olds seeking a college education, a trend that heavily impacts small private institutions like Siena Heights.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Firefighting crews worked Monday to cool residual heat and prevent hot spots from causing reignition, using chainsaws to fell and cut up hazardous trees, inspecting each section for heat and using hoses to extinguish any remaining embers.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
20 May 2026
-
The timbers came from trees felled by Cyclone Pam, the Category 5 storm that flattened much of Vanuatu in 2015.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Officials at Tucson’s Kino Sports Complex declined to comment.—
Chantz Martin OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 May 2026
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Meanwhile, a Cook County judge on Thursday declined to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate alleged wrongdoing by federal agents during Operation Midway Blitz.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Their 3-point shooting quickly tapered off for the remainder of the game.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2026
-
While Brent crude has tapered off from its wartime high of $126 per barrel at the end of April, prices are still more than 38% above levels seen before the Middle East conflict intensified.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Ratcheted (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratcheted%20%28down%29. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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