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 waterway typically accounts for about 20% of the world’s petroleum products and the clampdown has caused crude oil prices to skyrocket. —Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2026

Banksy captioned it Royal Courts of Justice, and it was suggested to have been a statement on the legal clampdown of pro-Palestine protests in England. —Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026

Verb

The Pios led 4-1 after a period and put the clamps down, methodically squeezing the clock and the Broncos’ hopes of a repeat title, a shift at a time. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026

Mark Zuckerberg’s company began clamping down on its research teams a few years ago after a Facebook researcher, Frances Haugen, became a prominent whistleblower. —Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026

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