crackdown

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈkræˌkdaʊn/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A severe or stern measure taken to suppress or punish illegal or undesirable activities, often by authorities or law enforcement.; A sudden and forceful enforcement of rules or regulations, typically in response to widespread noncompliance.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: crackdowns

Collocations

crackdown on crimecrackdown on drugsgovernment crackdownpolice crackdownlaunch a crackdowncrackdown on corruption

Derivatives

crack down

Synonyms

clampdownsuppressionrepressionpurgesweep

Antonyms

leniencytolerance

Commonly confused

crack down
EN: 'Crack down' (two words) is the phrasal verb meaning to take severe measures; 'crackdown' (one word) is the noun form.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember that 'crackdown' is one word when used as a noun, but 'crack down' is two words when used as a verb (e.g., 'They will crack down on offenders' vs. 'a crackdown on offenders').

💬 Examples

  1. The government announced a crackdown on illegal gambling operations.

  2. The school implemented a crackdown on students using mobile phones during class.