crack down (on)

verb

Definition of crack down (on)next
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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for crack down (on)
  1. quell
  2. suppress
  3. subdue
Verb
  • In June 2020, Willis demanded that Trump stop using Village People's music after the then-president threatened military action to quell protests following the police killing of George Floyd.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
  • And in case anyone thinks its suppressions are the stuff of the past, the emergence of far-right leaders around the Western world in the past few years quickly quells the fantasy.
    Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
Definition of quell
Verb
  • Harry is doing his best to keep Dexter from killing people, though Dex acknowledges that slicing into cadavers and taking hunting trips aren’t really cutting it in terms of suppressing his urges.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
  • His beautiful, distant mother, played by the French-Argentinean actress Bérénice Bejo, treats these outbursts as insurrections to be suppressed.
    Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of suppress
Verb
  • The price of iron ore, which is Rio’s single largest product, accounting for two-thirds of Rio Tinto’s revenue, has remained subdued in 2024, though showing some improvement in the recent months.
    Trefis Team, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
  • Several said they were alarmed by him and some were thankful when Penny subdued him.
    Jennifer Peltz, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2024
Definition of subdue
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near crack down (on)

crackbrains

crack down (on)

cracked

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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 22 Dec. 2024.

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