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
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
China is quietly investigating and detaining executives in the country as part of a ballooning corruption crackdown, The Economist wrote. J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025 Podcaster Theo Von has also publicly demanded that DHS remove clips of him used in an immigration crackdown video, and requested payment for the use of his footage. Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
Federal and state regulators are ramping up enforcement, with attorneys general from 38 states urging the FDA to crack down on counterfeit distributors, according to a report from the National Association of Attorneys General. Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025 The answer is that China had cracked down on another political movement, this one in Hong Kong in 2019 and 2020. Peter Leyden, Big Think, 7 Oct. 2025 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 11 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

crack down

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

More from Merriam-Webster on crackdown

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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