crack down

verb

cracked down; cracking down; cracks down

intransitive verb

: to take positive regulatory or disciplinary action

Synonyms of crack down

• quell
• suppress
• subdue
• sit on
• clamp down (on)

Examples of crack down in a Sentence

a repressive government that cracked down on political demonstrations

Recent Examples on the Web

States are cracking down, and Minnesota recently became the first state to ban prediction markets, but the CFTC filed a lawsuit to block that law. —Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 28 May 2026

After disappearing in 1993, Messina Denaro managed to elude authorities for the next 30 years as the Italian state cracked down on the Sicilian mob. —CBS News, 28 May 2026

At the same time, the Justice Department has recently cracked down on insider trading across several platforms, including Polymarket. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 28 May 2026

The rule, aimed at cracking down on leaks to media organizations, would expand nondisclosure agreements instituted at the Pentagon and other agencies. —Scott Nover, Washington Post, 26 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for crack down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

crack down

verb

ˈkrak-ˈdau̇n

: to take strong action especially to control or put down

crack down on crime

crackdown

-ˌdau̇n

noun