clampdown
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of clampdown
First recorded in 1935–40; noun use of verb phrase clamp down
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The population is aging, while the immigration clampdown has reduced the supply of workers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
One other factor got less attention: the clampdown on the illegal flow of firearms.
From Salon ● Jun. 2, 2026
An overnight parking clampdown aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour at a beauty spot where people hike to catch the sunrise will not solve the problem, locals say.
From BBC ● Apr. 17, 2026
The VPN Observatory can predict that a clampdown is coming from spikes in sign-ups, said Cesarano.
From Barron's ● Feb. 5, 2026
The library raid was part of that clampdown, and to the NSA it seemed justified.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
