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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clamp down (on)

Verb

Reading it immediately quells, or at least quelled my own, paranoia at being alone in the middle of the forest—nobody is getting got here, there’s a gate that only opens if the concierge approves of your face, voice, and name.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
There have been several protests by refugees living in Nepal where police have been used to quell them.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of quell

Verb

Some studies show that saffron may potentially help suppress appetite and aid in weight loss, reduce the symptoms of PMS and improve libido.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
And the nastiest errors of all, the bit-flips, are suppressed to around one in a million operations.

— John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of suppress

Verb

Consumer prices have likewise been subdued, with a slower-than-expected 1% rise in June from a year ago.

— Matthew Tan,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
Often, the review said, officers had to subdue aggressive dogs by the neck with a catch pole in order to load them onto patrol vehicles without ramps and walk them up to cages, a departure from industry standards.

— Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of subdue

Verb

The premise the loudest camps share Two narratives dominate coverage, and both sit on the same side of the only question that counts.

— Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
As the design pendulum continues to sit on the maximalist end of the spectrum, can’t-miss colors and whimsy prints have never been more in demand.

— Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 6 Aug. 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.

Browse Nearby Words

clamp down

clamp down (on)

clamped

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Clamp down (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clamp%20down%20%28on%29. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of clamp down (on)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

pedagogical

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes