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
Noun
Hasina presided over the removal of key democratic guardrails, the restriction of the independence of the judiciary, and a clampdown on civil society and the press. Ali Riaz, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2024 The clampdown led to the jailing of dozens of democracy advocates, and a subsequent rewriting of election rules all but ensured only pro-Beijing candidates could run for office. Lea Mok / Bloomberg, TIME, 5 Aug. 2024
Verb
The government has clamped down on dissent inside barracks and outside Venezuela’s borders ever since. Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 31 July 2024 Trump’s strong dollar policies Trump has promised to clamp down on immigration, impose tariffs, and institute another round of sizable tax cuts after extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Will Daniel, Fortune, 29 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for clampdown 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clampdown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near clampdown

Cite this Entry

“Clampdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clampdown. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

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
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