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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Dire economic conditions have contributed to widespread anger at the government in the past, but have also forced many Iranians to focus on putting food on the table rather than engaging in high-risk political activism amid a fierce crackdown on dissent. Amir Vahdat, Quartz, 24 Mar. 2024 Still, Mexico has cooperated with U.S. demands for more crackdowns on migrant flows and human trafficking networks, and agreed last year to receive deportees from four countries — Nicaragua, Haiti, Venezuela and Cuba. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 Until recently, Hong Kong was the only place on Chinese soil that tolerated memorials to Beijing’s bloody military crackdown on student protesters in 1989, and the sculpture was considered both a symbol and bellwether of free speech in the city. Oscar Holland, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024 Even with the crackdown from X, people kept sharing details of the Stonetoss investigation. David Gilbert, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024 Tencent Music, along with other content platforms like NetEase’s Cloud Music, removed a popular live-streaming feature that analysts said was often exploited for gambling after the Chinese government launched a crackdown on gambling in mid-2023. Elizabeth Dilts Marshall, Billboard, 19 Mar. 2024 In ramping up its internet crackdown, Russia has taken cues from China, where the internet is heavily restricted and social media is closely monitored. Aaron Krolik, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 After the crackdown on free speech in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, most independent media organizations have been banned, many Russian journalists are in exile, and foreign correspondents have either been expelled or jailed, including The Wall Street Journal’s Evan Gershkovich. USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024 Because of this regulatory crackdown, some companies are looking to expand in foreign markets, like the U.S., where censorship is less of an issue. Faye Bradley, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024
Verb
Conservative policy groups such as the Heritage Foundation have also said Trump should use executive authority to crack down on the drug if he is elected again. Ann E. Marimow and Caroline Kitchener The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 25 Mar. 2024 But critics say that Mr. Marcus’s larger ambition is to push a pro-Israel policy agenda and crack down on speech supporting Palestinians. Vimal Patel, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024 Vietnam depends heavily on exports and foreign investment, but its leaders have been tightening the party's grip on power and cracking down on dissent as well as widespread corruption. Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024 Temu’s cheaper offerings have also led to lawmakers calling on the Biden administration to crack down on the number of packages from China that enter the country duty-free. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 21 Mar. 2024 Putin faced no credible opposition and cracked down on free speech. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024 For those just catching up: US lawmakers have renewed efforts to crack down on TikTok over national security concerns related to its Chinese parent company ByteDance. Clare Duffy, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 Other design changes would also help, such as cracking down on spam by imposing stronger rate limits for new users. Nathaniel Lubin, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024 The aim is to crack down on crime, including vehicle theft, retail theft and violent crime. Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crackdown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near crackdown

crackbrain

crackdown

crack down

Cite this Entry

“Crackdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crackdown. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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

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