crackdown

1 of 2

noun

crack·​down ˈkrak-ˌdau̇n 

: an act or instance of cracking down

crack down

2 of 2

verb

cracked down; cracking down; cracks down

intransitive verb

: to take positive regulatory or disciplinary action

Synonyms

Verb

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

Examples of crackdown in a Sentence

Noun

Companies that pollute are the target of a new crackdown.

Verb

a repressive government that cracked down on political demonstrations

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Immigration crackdown expanding in Central California, Border Patrol says in update, via Melissa Montalvo. —Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 13 Jan. 2025

At the time, leading Chinese technology companies were still reeling from an 18-month government crackdown that shaved around $1 trillion off China's tech sector. —Harry Booth, TIME, 8 Jan. 2025

Verb

Adams said last week that the NYPD will be helping to crack down on drivers looking to evade the new fee by covering up parts of their license plates. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 13 Jan. 2025

In May 2020, then-President Trump urged state governors to be more aggressive in cracking down on racial justice protests that turned violent. —Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1935, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1939, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

crack down

verb

ˈkrak-ˈdau̇n

: to take strong action especially to control or put down

crack down on crime

crackdown

-ˌdau̇n

noun