CRACKING DOWN (ON) Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

cracking down (on)

verb

present participle of crack down (on)

as in sitting on

to put a stop to (something) by the use of force a repressive government that cracked down on political demonstrations

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for cracking down (on)

Verb

There is something instructive in the agent concluding a diatribe on quelling revolutionary violence with a note about feeling inspired.

— Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
The break with Callaway was the first sign that Good Good’s attempts at quelling the crisis were not going well after Clark’s statement on social media Wednesday night.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of quelling

Verb

Embracing uncertainty does not mean ignoring danger, suppressing disappointment or insisting that every setback is positive.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
In addition to suppressing screen tearing, the Pro upgrade adds color and luminance certification as well as HDR compatibility.

— Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of suppressing

Verb

The school's head teacher, Krzysztof Ochmanski, was injured while subduing the teenager, officials said.

— James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
The handful of Israeli passengers grappled with the copilot for several minutes before subduing him and binding his hands with the cord from a set of headphones.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of subduing

Verb

As lawyers crowded in, Reddington could be seen slapping down a sheaf of papers.

— Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
The production runs for 2026 and 2027 are sold out, but future flyers can jump in the queue for the 2028 build now by slapping down a deposit of US$8,000.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025

Definition of slapping down

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cracking

cracking down (on)

cracking (on)

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“Cracking down (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracking%20down%20%28on%29. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cracking down (on)

verb

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