clampdown
1 of 2noun
clamp·down ˈklamp-ˌdau̇n 
: the act or action of making regulations and restrictions more stringent
a clampdown on charge accounts, bank loans, and other inflationary influences 
Time
Timeclamp down
2 of 2verb
clamped down; clamping down; clamps down
intransitive verb
: to impose restrictions : crack down
the police are clamping down on speeders
Synonyms
Verb
- crack down (on)
- crush
- put down
- quash
- quell
- repress
- silence
- slap down
- snuff (out)
- squash
- squelch
- subdue
- suppress
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Raffaele Huang, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 The regulatory clampdown is not without cause: Last month, NHTSA reported traffic fatalities nationwide hit a 16-year high in 2021 after 42,915 people lost their lives last year. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 10 June 2022 Liu has also recently made headlines for pledging billions of dollars to charity amid China's regulatory clampdown on tech. Michelle Toh, CNN, 7 Apr. 2022 The clampdown comes as China's central bank has been testing its own digital currency, the electronic Chinese yuan. Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2021 In recent months, China has embarked on a major clampdown on private enterprise, which has engulfed some of the country's top players. Cnn Staff, CNN, 31 Aug. 2021 While Chinese leaders have always maintained strict controls on the country’s media, the latest clampdown is significant for its timing, media scholars and analysts said. Liza Lin, WSJ, 12 Oct. 2021 The West is re-embracing Prince Mohammed despite concerns about human rights in Saudi Arabia, where dozens of people have been arrested in a clampdown on political freedoms. Noemie Bisserbe, WSJ, 28 July 2022 While gun reform advocates on both sides of the border have cheered Canada's further clampdown on gun purchases, some say the new law doesn't go far enough. Yvonne Lau, Fortune, 12 June 2022 See More
Noun
Pinduoduo’s overseas expansion comes at a time when China’s economic slowdown, worsened by Beijing’s stringent Covid-19 control measures, has rippled through a tech sector already grappling with the aftermath of a regulatory clampdown. Raffaele Huang, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 The regulatory clampdown is not without cause: Last month, NHTSA reported traffic fatalities nationwide hit a 16-year high in 2021 after 42,915 people lost their lives last year. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 10 June 2022 Liu has also recently made headlines for pledging billions of dollars to charity amid China's regulatory clampdown on tech. Michelle Toh, CNN, 7 Apr. 2022 The clampdown comes as China's central bank has been testing its own digital currency, the electronic Chinese yuan. Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2021 In recent months, China has embarked on a major clampdown on private enterprise, which has engulfed some of the country's top players. Cnn Staff, CNN, 31 Aug. 2021 While Chinese leaders have always maintained strict controls on the country’s media, the latest clampdown is significant for its timing, media scholars and analysts said. Liza Lin, WSJ, 12 Oct. 2021 The West is re-embracing Prince Mohammed despite concerns about human rights in Saudi Arabia, where dozens of people have been arrested in a clampdown on political freedoms. Noemie Bisserbe, WSJ, 28 July 2022 While gun reform advocates on both sides of the border have cheered Canada's further clampdown on gun purchases, some say the new law doesn't go far enough. Yvonne Lau, Fortune, 12 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1940, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1938, in the meaning defined above
clamps down
verb
as in turns back
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- turns back
- brakes
- stamps
- stanches
- checks
- reins (in)
- arrests
- holds back
- squashes
- stunts
- suppresses
- stems
- squelches
- stays
- kiboshes
- blocks
- suspends
- calls
- pauses
- delays
- ruins
- hinders
- suspends
- cuts off
- dams
- kills
- aborts
- staunches
- obstructs
- closes (down)
- shuts off
- cuts out
- blockades
- destroys
- impedes
- holds
- scuttles
- dissolves
- breaks off
- annuls
- lays off
- abolishes
- knocks off
- detains
- demolishes
- snuffs
- deactivates
- leaves off
- breaks up
- finishes
- packs (up or in)
- ends
- gives over
- stops
- completes
- ceases
- concludes
- halts
- cans
- drops
- desists (from)
- quits
- discontinues
- breaks
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continues
- follows through (with)
- advances
- progresses
- proceeds
- keeps up
- runs on
- carries on
- propels
- drives
- actuates
- stirs
- impels