as in to quell
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
a repressive government that cracked down on political demonstrations
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack down (on)
Verb
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The system is expected to hook around a large plume of African dust that has been quelling hurricane development for the past several weeks, Fox Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross wrote on his blog, Hurricane Intel.—
David Schutz,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Aug. 2025 -
America’s military establishment tried to quell the outrage with a piece in Harper’s by Henry Stimson, a retired Secretary of War.—
Jane Mayer,
New Yorker,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
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One woman described witnessing the harms of diseases that have been suppressed by vaccination, noting that her mother has experienced weakness in her limbs as the result of a childhood polio infection.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
4 Aug. 2025
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Four engines, one water tender, two dozers and two hand crews are working to suppress the fire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Asia-Pacific markets were subdued overnight as a result.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
11 Aug. 2025
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The two also showed a demonstration of what a K9 takedown looks like, with Humphries acting as a target and K9 Bob subduing him.—
Richard Requena,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Crack down (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crack%20down%20%28on%29. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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