crackdown

[ krak-doun ]

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of crackdown¹

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

Example Sentences

The latest crackdown by Nigeria’s central bank on cryptocurrency has elicited outrage and confusion in a country where virtual currency has boomed in the last five years.

From Quartz

Behind the scenes, marketers have been scrambling for answers in the days following Apple’s “early spring” deadline for its crackdown on companies using its Identifiers for Advertisers to track people.

From Digiday

The Kremlin said that the crackdown was appropriate and that the protests were led by “hooligans and provocateurs.”

From Washington Post

Thousands have left their homes amid fears of a crackdown from Beijing.

From Quartz

With the authorities’ crackdown on FBK, she is well aware of the risks she faces.

From Time

A crackdown on a Tiananmen scale is on many minds, even if no one has the foggiest idea what Beijing is planning.

From The Daily Beast

In total, nine infants have reportedly seized by the military in the crackdown.

From The Daily Beast

“It dealt with the consequences of the Green Movement crackdown and how it affected the lives of a family,” said Panahi.

From The Daily Beast

In other words, make fireworks less available for home misuse and develop an ever tougher crackdown on drunk drivers.

From The Daily Beast

Florida, which began a pill mill crackdown in 2010, saw a 50 percent decrease in overdose deaths from oxycodone in 2012.

From The Daily Beast

Then there was a crackdown on Catholics, with houses being searched for hiding places for priests.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clampdown
• repression
• strike
• suppression