as in suppressed
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
a repressive government that cracked down on political demonstrations
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracked down (on)
Verb
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The President praised the speed with which this modest protest was suppressed.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025 -
The Secret Commonwealth is the condemnation of a world where imagination—not making things up, but a way of seeing, understanding, feeling the world—is suppressed by the dual forces of cold rationality and religious fundamentalisms that breed authoritarianism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The large police presence, with a handful of riot vans positioned between the protestors and the stadium entrance, quelled any threat of violence until a small flashpoint close to half-time — tear gas was briefly used to disperse activists who attempted to break through police barricades.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
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That argument hasn’t quelled internal frustration.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Their taste can be subdued by pairing them with ingredients like herbs and lemon juice, and they can be used in place of almost any fish.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
14 Oct. 2025
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Sure, there's a definite shift of styles between the grim, cramped jail cell and a lavish Hollywood musical, but the latter seems almost subdued.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And that’s the big ol’ marker general manager Adam Peters has slapped down on the table, a year-plus into his stint here.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
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But his vague inferences have been easily slapped down with clear details about prices not being met and no promises being made.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Cracked down (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracked%20down%20%28on%29. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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