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
Time
clamped down; clamping down; clamps down
: to impose restrictions : crack down
the police are clamping down on speeders
Examples of clampdown in a Sentence
Verb
the need to clamp down on petty crime in the city
Recent Examples on the Web
Douglas Gillison, USA Today, 30 July 2025
And a visa clampdown announced in May, seen as an attempt to appeal to voters who might be attracted by Reform UK, will have a big impact on businesses that rely heavily on workers from abroad, in particular care-home operators.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 7 July 2025
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 July 2025
Thanks in large part to Texas’ relatively lax regulations on such operations and state law keeping municipalities from clamping down on the emerging technology, the state has become a hub for self-driving vehicles — and Austin is the launch pad.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for clampdown
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Noun
The latest estimate - from the Consumer Federation of America and Student Borrower Protection Center - adds to what critics of President Donald Trump's administration say is the mounting cost to ordinary people from his clampdown on the CFPB.
—Douglas Gillison, USA Today, 30 July 2025
And a visa clampdown announced in May, seen as an attempt to appeal to voters who might be attracted by Reform UK, will have a big impact on businesses that rely heavily on workers from abroad, in particular care-home operators.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 7 July 2025
Verb
YouTube’s announcement about clamping down on spam has freaked him out.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 July 2025
Thanks in large part to Texas’ relatively lax regulations on such operations and state law keeping municipalities from clamping down on the emerging technology, the state has become a hub for self-driving vehicles — and Austin is the launch pad.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for clampdown
Cite this Entry
“Clampdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clampdown. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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