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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Later in the video, Rogers used a fire extinguisher to quell some of the flames on the exterior of the door.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026 -
This effort to include everyone did not quell protests.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
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At scale, the petty-minded bureaucrats implementing an agenda to sanitize American history, and to erase or suppress political dissent, have committed and will continue to commit a great deal of mischief.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
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Florida Forest Service Senior Forester Michelle Danielson said aerial crews from the Broward Sheriff's Office and the National Guard assisted with water drops to help suppress the fire and protect nearby communities.—
Manuel Bojorquez,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Sentiment has remained subdued ever since.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
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The atmosphere at the Palace game was strangely subdued, to begin with, lacking the edge or jeopardy that would usually be associated at this stage of the season.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
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During the warmer months, guests can sit on the patio and order drinks from the wide selection of beers, too.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
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Plush toy versions of his cats and monkey characters sit on recently upholstered matte orange, cream and red booths.—
Iris Kwok
May 12,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 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 18 May. 2026.
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