crack down on

to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <the government cracked down on political demonstrations with unprecedented brutality> Synonyms clamp down (on), quell (on), crush, put down, quash, repress, silence, slap down, snuff (out), squash, squelch, subdue, suppressRelated Words douse (also dowse), extinguish, put out, quench; smother, stifle, strangle, throttle; annihilate, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, nuke, rub out, ruin, smash, waste, wreck; exterminate, obliterate, wipe out; conquer, dominate, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, subdue, subjugate, vanquishNear Antonyms abet, aid, assist, back, help, prop up, support; foment, incite, instigate, provoke, stir, whip (up); advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote