crackdown

1 of 2

noun

crack·​down ˈkrak-ˌdau̇n How to pronounce crackdown (audio)
: an act or instance of cracking down

crack down

2 of 2

verb

cracked down; cracking down; cracks down

intransitive verb

: to take positive regulatory or disciplinary action

Examples of crackdown in a Sentence

Noun Companies that pollute are the target of a new crackdown. Verb a repressive government that cracked down on political demonstrations
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
His disappearance, if linked to an investigation, would signal a continued anti-corruption crackdown within China's political and business elite led by President Xi Jinping. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025 Another immigration crackdown: Fine's bill (SB 244) would prohibit state universities with acceptance rates below 85% from accepting applications from or admitting undocumented students. Yacob Reyes, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
On Thursday, Trump said import taxes would force other countries to crack down on the trafficking. Alexx Altman-Devilbiss, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2025 The Trump administration has designated eight gangs and cartels, including Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel and MS-13, foreign terrorist organizations in a move that expands the U.S. government’s ability to crack down on criminal organizations operating in its territory. Greg Wehner, Fox News, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crackdown

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1935, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1939, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crackdown was in 1935

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Crackdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crackdown. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

crack down

verb
ˈkrak-ˈdau̇n
: to take strong action especially to control or put down
crack down on crime
crackdown
-ˌdau̇n
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on crackdown

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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