CLAMP DOWN (ON) Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

clamp down (on)

verb

Definition of clamp down (on)

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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for clamp down (on)

Verb

The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for the first time since 2023 in an effort to quell stubbornly-high inflation and the central bank also signaled that another rate hike could occur later this year.

— DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFFFROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
After just one win in four league games (their other victory came against Champions League minnows Sabah), there needed to be a performance here to quell the pressure starting to build.

— Chris McKenna, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of quell

Verb

When Eguileor intervened, Rubin struck her in the head multiple times before other workers subdued him.

— Anna McAllister, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
The British man tried to ignite them midflight but struggled to light the fuse before other passengers and crew members subdued him.

— Rio Yamat, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of subdue

Verb

Employers could still offer productivity bonuses calculated according to output, but those payments would have to sit on top of an hourly wage.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026
More than 3,000 solar panels now sit on the water and feed electricity to the nearby water treatment plant.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of sit on

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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clamp down

clamp down (on)

clamped

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“Clamp down (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clamp%20down%20%28on%29. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of clamp down (on)

verb

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