crackdown

1 of 2

noun

crack·​down ˈkrak-ˌdau̇n How to pronounce crackdown (audio)
: an act or instance of cracking down

crack down

2 of 2

verb

cracked down; cracking down; cracks down

intransitive verb

: to take positive regulatory or disciplinary action

Examples of crackdown in a Sentence

Noun Companies that pollute are the target of a new crackdown. Verb a repressive government that cracked down on political demonstrations
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Plenty of faceless creators have continued to find success on social media despite YouTube’s crackdown. Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2026 The president watched Israel assassinate his colleagues and superiors, faced accusations by ultra-conservative hardline politicians of compliance with Iran’s archenemy, the United States, and even oversaw a massive crackdown on protests. Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 12 June 2026
Verb
Park rangers are cracking down on new rules for e-bikes along the American River Parkway in Sacramento County. Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 12 June 2026 Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas this week vowed to crack down on unlicensed businesses after a weekend mass shooting injured nine people at an unregulated club on Troost Avenue. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for crackdown

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1935, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1939, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crackdown was in 1935

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Crackdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crackdown. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

crack down

verb
ˈkrak-ˈdau̇n
: to take strong action especially to control or put down
crack down on crime
crackdown
-ˌdau̇n
noun

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