as in to quell
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
the need to clamp down on petty crime in the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clamp down (on)
Verb
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Khamenei often used the broad range of powers at his disposal to quell dissent.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026 -
In Utah Territory the US government cracked down on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its impressive theocracy, seeking to quell religious dissent.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bondi wants to suppress, or at least stall, state Bar investigations against them.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
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Which stories persist, which fade and which are actively suppressed are decisions increasingly made by private companies rather than public institutions.—
Arnaud Kurze,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even so, the reaction of the market has been relatively subdued, said David Butter, an energy expert on the Middle East at the Chatham House think tank.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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Video from the scene shows a security detail member being taken to the ground as officers worked to subdue the suspects.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Reading Climate History on Mount Sharp The formations sit on Mount Sharp, a towering feature about 3 miles (5 kilometers) tall that Curiosity has been steadily ascending.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Mar. 2026
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Unlike rods that slide, these drums sit on the periphery of the core and feature two distinct sides.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Clamp down (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clamp%20down%20%28on%29. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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