clamp down

verb

Definition of clamp downnext
as in to rein (in)

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of clamp down On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent the administration plans to impose sanctions on another bank this week in an effort to clamp down on Iran transactions. — Konstantin Toropin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 The deceased sloths, which were largely brought from the wild in Guyana and Peru, still prompted public outrage and an effort from Orange County commissioners to clamp down on exotic animal imports locally. — Rylan Digiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026 While the new enforcement powers relate to the AI Act, the Commission has taken steps to clamp down on AI in the past. — Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026 Kronosaurus could clamp down on its prey with a bite estimated at 3,370—6,070 pounds of force, meaning even a large animal like an ichthyosaur rarely stood a chance against the apex predator. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for clamp down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clamp down
  1. turn back
  2. brake
  3. hold back
  4. check
  5. arrest
  6. stamp
  7. squash
  8. suppress
Verb
  • Tight end Travis Kelce looks like he’s turned back the clock for Kansas City, which is running the ball well.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • An Israeli military official said its fighter jets had turned back before the plane landed at Tabuk.
    — Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of turn back
Verb
  • Nine days later, a Qantas Airbus A321 had to brake while taxiing to allow another Qantas 737 to pass in front of it.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Smoother downshifts while braking matter more, but trying to step up a gear at full throttle anywhere near redline seemed to challenge the clutch-free system.
    — Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of brake
Verb
  • Rooms are conservatively classic, but common spaces don't hold back with requisite lobby lounge piano, over-the-top holiday decorations, a grand staircase, and marble fireplace.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Making matters worse, China is holding back fuel exports to avoid a shortage at home.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of hold back
Verb
  • The game show is based around those ubiquitous internet verification tests that check if the visitor to a website is human or a bot.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The binding document has only a few boxes to check and blanks to fill in.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of check
Verb
  • The teen and his parents were contacted by police Tuesday, and he was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • He was arrested about 20 miles south of his hometown in East Palestine, Ohio, where police were conducting a prostitution sting at a mobile home park.
    — Erick Mendoza, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrest
Verb
  • The community nurse hadn’t even bothered to rewrite it, and the polite doctor simply stamped under her amendments.
    — Alicja Turczyk, The Dial, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Drivers sometimes made their own, carved from wood, stamped onto metal, the numbers mounted on screens, or painted onto boards.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of stamp
Verb
  • But police union’s last-minute campaign aims to squash the tax.
    — Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The high cost of borrowing has squashed the fixer-upper market too.
    — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of squash
Verb
  • After security forces suppressed peaceful protests with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms, plunging large parts of the country into conflict.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • What explains this difficulty in suppressing the Canal Street counterfeiters?
    — Daniel Edward Rosen, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of suppress

Browse Nearby Words

clamp
clamp down
clamp down (on)
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Cite this Entry

“Clamp down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clamp%20down. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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