as in suppressed
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 cracked down (on)
Verb
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There have been protests before that have been just brutally suppressed.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026 -
Ukraine’s air defense system destroyed or suppressed 226 drones, 10 cruise missiles and 8 ballistic missiles.—
Morgan Winsor,
ABC News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But Trump’s usual tactics haven’t quelled GOP dissent.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
19 Dec. 2025
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Talk of a bubble in artificial intelligence has not been quelled despite Nvidia delivering yet another blockbuster quarter in November.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
26 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine has subdued the most contagious virus on earth.—
Jerome Adams,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
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Nazism’s total domination politically and socially found an aesthetic counterpart in the visual reduction of bodies to things, ecstatically subdued before the hypnotic power of a leader, force, or sublime beauty.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Time and time again, courts have slapped down these strong-arm tactics that lack the force of law.—
Bob Morgan,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Jan. 2026
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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
Verb
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Smith was also put down on 12 and cashed in to score his 37th Test century, and is 129 not out overnight.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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The salt that is put down doesn't stay where it is applied.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
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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 13 Jan. 2026.
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