crackdown

[ krak-doun ]

/ ˈkrækˌdaʊn /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR crackdown ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the severe or stern enforcement of regulations, laws, etc., as to root out abuses or correct a problem.

Origin of crackdown

1930–35, Americanism; noun use of verb phrase crack down

Words nearby crackdown

crack a smile, crackberry, crackbrain, crackbrained, crack cocaine, crackdown, cracked, cracked heel, cracked heels, cracked up, cracked wheat

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for crackdown

A crackdown on a Tiananmen scale is on many minds, even if no one has the foggiest idea what Beijing is planning.
Hong Kong Between Calm and Chaos|Ben Leung|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In total, nine infants have reportedly seized by the military in the crackdown.
The Wild, Wild West of Thai Surrogacy|Emily Shire|August 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“It dealt with the consequences of the Green Movement crackdown and how it affected the lives of a family,” said Panahi.
Jafar Panahi: Filmmaking Ban Is My Iranian Prison|Jamsheed Akrami|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Particular bars and nightclubs are earmarked as gay-friendly despite the crackdown, members told The Daily Beast.
Al-Sisi’s Egypt Is Worse For Gays Than The Muslim Brotherhood|Bel Trew|June 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Miriam recalls her last conversation with her brother being about him trying to help members of his group escape the crackdown.
Egypt’s Black Site Torture Camps|Jesse Rosenfeld|June 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then there was a crackdown on Catholics, with houses being searched for hiding places for priests.
Our Legal Heritage, 5th Ed.|S. A. Reilly

British Dictionary definitions for crackdown

crack down

verb (intr, adverb often foll by on)

to take severe measures (against); become stricter (with)

noun crackdown

severe or repressive measures

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with crackdown