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

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Natalia’s courageous odyssey is set against the turbulent years of 2019 to 2023 when Russia’s clampdown on opposition figures and journalists intensifies, post-pandemic, and war in Ukraine breaks out. Annika Pham, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 At the same time, the U.S. has held off a more severe clampdown on Russian oil sales for fear of causing a surge in crude prices -- a politically perilous scenario during an election year. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 24 Feb. 2024 Shares of Tencent and NetEase, two prominent publishers, plunged as investors worried of another clampdown on the sector, at one point erasing almost $80 billion in value. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 3 Jan. 2024 The law will put Hong Kong in step with the mainland, where foreign businesses have been spooked by a security clampdown. Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2024 Besides its clampdown on internal criticism last year, Iran has come under criticism for providing Russia powerful self-detonating drones that the Kremlin has used in its invasion of Ukraine. John Hudson, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2023 Analysts say the clampdown on political foes and stifling of dissent puts Bangladesh’s democracy in a fragile position, risks triggering political turmoil and may test some of its diplomatic ties. Krutika Pathi, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Jan. 2024 O’Donnell said the system has increasingly relied on lecturers to teach courses since the early 2000s, increasing their numbers during budget clampdowns during the Great Recession. Debbie Truong, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2023 The city’s clampdown on Airbnbs and other short-term rentals seems to be part of what’s sending interest in hotels soaring. Amanda Hoover, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2023
Verb
As the Premier League clamps down on clubs breaching profit and sustainability rules, not being savvy can cost you money and points. Henry Flynn, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The defense completely clamped down on Buffalo’s receivers and made Stefon Diggs a nonfactor. Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 German banking giant Deutsche has joined a growing list of companies clamping down on work-from-home policies by ordering its 85,000 staffers back to the office, in an apparent walkback after consistently praising the productivity benefits of remote work. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 16 Feb. 2024 When rates soared, businesses sought to clamp down on vendors but didn’t know where to start, Kong said. Luisa Beltran, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2024 After years of successfully clamping down, Namibia saw rhino poaching increase by 93% last year over the year before, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Jan. 2024 Even without cornerback Marlon Humphrey, the secondary clamped down on budding star Nico Collins. Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2024 The Bulldogs ambushed Florida offensively in the first half, leading by as much as 11 in the first frame, but the Gators defense clamped down in the second half to hold Georgia to shooting 37% in the final 20 minutes. Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 But after that, Kansas City clamped down and largely rendered the Ravens into a one-dimensional, mistake-prone team. Nate Davis, The Courier-Journal, 29 Jan. 2024

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 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

clamp down

verb
: to act in a strict and forceful manner to stop something
police are clamping down on drunk driving

More from Merriam-Webster on clampdown

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