clampdown

1 of 2

noun

clamp·​down ˈklamp-ˌdau̇n How to pronounce clampdown (audio)
: the act or action of making regulations and restrictions more stringent
a clampdown on charge accounts, bank loans, and other inflationary influencesTime

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

Examples of clampdown in a Sentence

Verb the need to clamp down on petty crime in the city
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
The decision appeared to relax a clampdown on America’s second-largest international student group. Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025 Indian expansion Shein launched in India in 2018 but it was banned in 2020 as part of a government clampdown on Chinese firms. Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 9 June 2025
Verb
Defense comes back intact Give credit to the Blues’ defensive personnel, who clamped down after Montgomery took over and made the team much improved overall five-on-five. Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 20 June 2025 People turned to Ring in particular around the L.A. protests, which began on June 7 in response to ICE mass arresting immigrants and became a political flashpoint as Trump called in the National Guard and sent in Marines to clamp down on demonstrators. Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for clampdown

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1940, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clampdown was in 1938

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clampdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clampdown. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

clamp down

verb
: to act in a strict and forceful manner to stop something
laws clamping down on fraud

More from Merriam-Webster on clampdown

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!