clamping down (on)

verb

present participle of clamp down (on)
as in sitting on
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 clamping down (on)
  1. quelling
  2. suppressing
  3. subduing
  4. slapping down
Verb
  • As Matt Reeves is hard at work in Gotham City, James Gunn is quelling some overeager fans about the timeline of the Batman trilogy.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Aside from Spain’s progress in quelling the fires this week, there are still active fires in France to consider, since the particulate matter could continue drifting across large portions of its neighboring nation.
    — T. Michelle Murphy, Time, 29 July 2026
Definition of quelling
Verb
  • In that sense, emotional intelligence becomes less about suppressing feelings than directing them productively.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The men now rising through the security establishment have spent their careers confronting enemies abroad and suppressing dissent at home.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of suppressing
Verb
  • This means the market makers, often called dealers, are the ones that have to play catch-up, adding to volatility instead of subduing it.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 23 July 2026
  • Rome — The death of a Moroccan man in police custody has sparked protests – some violent – in the northern city of Bologna after video of the incident showing officers forcefully subduing the man circulated online.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Definition of subduing
Verb
  • The production runs for 2026 and 2027 are sold out, but future flyers can jump in the queue for the 2028 build now by slapping down a deposit of US$8,000.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025
Definition of slapping down
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

clamping down
clamping down (on)
clamps
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Cite this Entry

“Clamping down (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clamping%20down%20%28on%29. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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