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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
There’s a clampdown on apps from outside the official store, and trivial apps on Play Store itself are being rooted out. Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025 But many supplement makers use the policy to get their products on the market without FDA review, and some are unhappy about the potential clampdown. Arthur Allen, NBC news, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
President Trump has repeatedly sought to clamp down on transgender Americans and schools that accommodate their identity, launching investigations at all levels of education. Tara Suter, The Hill, 29 Aug. 2025 Supreme Court candidate now silent on previous recusal bill As a Democratic state legislator, now-state Supreme Court candidate Chris Taylor sponsored legislation that would have clamped down on judges and justices participating in cases involving campaign donors. Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clampdown

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

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clampdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clampdown. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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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