clampdown

1 of 2

noun

clamp·​down ˈklamp-ˌdau̇n 

: the act or action of making regulations and restrictions more stringent

a clampdown on charge accounts, bank loans, and other inflationary influences

—Time

clamp down

2 of 2

verb

clamped down; clamping down; clamps down

intransitive verb

: to impose restrictions : crack down

the police are clamping down on speeders

Synonyms

Verb

• crack down (on)
• crush
• put down
• quash
• quell
• repress
• silence
• slap down
• snuff (out)
• squash
• squelch
• subdue
• suppress

Examples of clampdown in a Sentence

Verb

the need to clamp down on petty crime in the city

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The clampdown on surrogacy comes against the backdrop of falling birthrates, with national statistics institute ISTAT saying in March that births had dropped to a record low in 2023 — the 15th consecutive annual decline. —Reuters, NBC News, 16 Oct. 2024

State of play: More recently, the Biden administration's border clampdown may be changing that, as evidenced by falling apprehensions of those trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. —Courtenay Brown, Axios, 30 Sep. 2024

Verb

Google’s big push comes by way of Android 15 with a raft of new updates, while Samsung is arguably doing more, clamping down on sideloading, defaulting to maximum restrictions and pushing its Knox ecosystem as an alternative to Apple’s equivalent. —Zak Doffman, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Dosunmu clamped down on Magic guard Jalen Suggs to prevent multiple attempts to attack the rim from the top of the perimeter, forcing him into a poor shot off a turnaround jumper that missed wide. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1940, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1938, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

clamp down

verb

: to act in a strict and forceful manner to stop something

laws clamping down on fraud