cracked down; cracking down; cracks down
: 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
Farida Elsebai, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
During the administration’s immigration crackdown, hundreds have been hurt, and courts in at least four states have found that officers used force inappropriately and indiscriminately.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
Arkansas Online, 19 Feb. 2026
But while Gu hailed from a wealthy family that spent time in both the US and China, Liu’s father fled China after helping to lead the Tiananmen democracy protests, which China’s Communist Party cracked down on brutally.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crackdown
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Noun
Iran has intensified its crackdown on dissent amid concerns war could trigger regime change.
—Farida Elsebai, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
During the administration’s immigration crackdown, hundreds have been hurt, and courts in at least four states have found that officers used force inappropriately and indiscriminately.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
Gabon blocks social media platforms LIBREVILLE, Gabon -- Gabon has suspended access to social media and digital platforms throughout the central African nation until further notice, the authorities said as critics accuse the country's leader of cracking down on dissent.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Feb. 2026
But while Gu hailed from a wealthy family that spent time in both the US and China, Liu’s father fled China after helping to lead the Tiananmen democracy protests, which China’s Communist Party cracked down on brutally.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crackdown
Cite this Entry
“Crackdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crackdown. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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