clampdown

1 of 2

noun

clamp·​down ˈklamp-ˌdau̇n 

: the act or action of making regulations and restrictions more stringent

… a violent clampdown on suspected Communists …

—Marie Arana

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

Synonyms of clampdown

Verb

• quell
• suppress
• crack down (on)
• subdue
• sit on

Examples of clampdown in a Sentence

Verb

the need to clamp down on petty crime in the city

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The clampdown is part of a push in Washington to limit the Asian nation’s ability to develop domestic chip supply. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025

That invites questions about the match officials’ timekeeping and about the futility of a welcome clampdown on timewasting by goalkeepers when such an enormous amount of time is being lost to other stoppages. —Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025

Verb

Walter hopes that the federal crackdown on antifa will inspire more state and local law enforcement agencies, not just the ones in Texas, to clamp down on political violence. —Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 23 Nov. 2025

Meanwhile the clamp down on immigration by his Border Force has unsurprisingly drawn particular ire in the Hispanic community. —Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1940, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1938, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clampdown

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

clamp down

verb

: to act in a strict and forceful manner to stop something

laws clamping down on fraud