plural crackdowns
: a serious attempt to punish people for doing something that is not allowed : an increased effort to enforce a law or rule
Companies that pollute are the target of a new crackdown.
—often + onThere's been a federal crackdown on smuggling in recent years.
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“Crackdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/crackdown. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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