clamp·down
ˈklamp-ˌdau̇n 
: the act or action of making regulations and restrictions more stringent
a clampdown on charge accounts, bank loans, and other inflationary influences—
Time
Time
clamped down; clamping down; clamps down
: 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
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
PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
Wanting to avoid a repeat, Lue pulled four of his starters in favor of the defensive-minded Dunn, Nicolas Batum, Collins and Lopez, who together clamped down any chance of the Suns getting back into the game.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
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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
The weight distribution is excellent, and the removable earcups have plush padding, plus the headband doesn't clamp down too tightly.
—PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
Wanting to avoid a repeat, Lue pulled four of his starters in favor of the defensive-minded Dunn, Nicolas Batum, Collins and Lopez, who together clamped down any chance of the Suns getting back into the game.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clampdown
Cite this Entry
“Clampdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clampdown. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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