as in to quell
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
the need to clamp down on petty crime in the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clamp down (on)
Verb
-
Additionally, officials have introduced a series of new measures in an effort to quell the potential for chaos in the upcoming season.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026 -
In San Clemente, firefighters have typically had to get water from neighboring towns or from a golf course lake to quell fires.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Kyle Schwarber stands as a stunning exception to the San Diego ballpark’s home-run suppressing history.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 May 2026
-
Like seawater, ice exerts pressure on the Earth’s crust, suppressing volcanic activity.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
But by 2010, her inner punk and penchant for pattern-maxxing had subdued.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
22 May 2026
-
In the case of Britain’s war to subdue American revolutionaries, nothing could be further from the truth.—
Nick Bunker,
Washington Post,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
The best way to enjoy it is simply to arrive a little earlier, bring something to drink, sit on the rocks and let the moment unfold naturally.—
David Hochman,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
The justices ruled 6-3 that Kennedy and his predecessor in the Biden administration had the ability to name the experts who sit on the panel.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
20 May 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Clamp down (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clamp%20down%20%28on%29. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
