CRACKING DOWN (ON) Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

cracking down (on)

verb

present participle of crack down (on)

as in sitting on

to put a stop to (something) by the use of force a repressive government that cracked down on political demonstrations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracking down (on)

Verb

Other ubiquitous Chinese deities, such as the regal Jade Emperor, the faithful warrior Guan Yu, the wondrous savior Mazu, and the demon-quelling Zhong Kui, fill both the popular imagination and the stuff of Daoist ritual.

— Michael Naparstek, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
The very system itself - schooling and parenting - now operates on quelling agency.

— Mimosa Jones Tunney, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Definition of quelling

Verb

What is left of a sprawling state apparatus is capable of little more than paying poverty wages to its employees, running hospitals with dwindling supplies, and suppressing any popular challenge to the heirs of Chavez.

— Rafael Osío Cabrices, Time, 20 July 2026
The ground robots established a support-by-fire position, suppressing the Russian defenders and forcing them to remain under cover.

— Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of suppressing

Verb

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
Viewers have already seen glimpses of the premiere, which involves Aang and Katara subduing a sea serpent while guiding refugees across a treacherous path.

— Entertainment Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026

Definition of subduing

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

cracking

cracking down (on)

cracking (on)

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cracking down (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracking%20down%20%28on%29. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of cracking down (on)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

parochial

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

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

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes