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

cracked down (on)

verb

past tense of crack down (on)

as in suppressed

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 cracked down (on)

Verb

The workers organized a strike, but their efforts were brutally suppressed.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
For 15 years multiple rounds of quantitative easing kept yields suppressed below 3% and often even close to zero, returns which are hardly competitive with stocks.

— Justin Zacks, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of suppressed

Verb

The quiet moments of the offseason were eventually quelled by the madness of a young locker room, on a team replete with potential.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
Ossoff has repeatedly denied interest in a White House bid, but that hasn’t quelled the talk.

— Jared Gans, The Hill, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of quelled

Verb

Nugent has been in police custody since shortly after Haines was injured and a crowd of bystanders subdued him.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
Suspect to face court on Wednesday Nugent has been in police custody since shortly after Haines was injured and a crowd of bystanders subdued him.

— CBS News, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of subdued

Verb

Europe has called on China to voluntarily reduce hybrid car exports into the continent, but authorities in Beijing had reportedly slapped down the request, according to the Financial Times.

— Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
Then, the scene went dark as a Wanted poster of Shaboozey was slapped down on the barroom’s table.

— Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of slapped down

Verb

None of this means mental illness can be solved by telling a struggling young person to put down their phone, join a club or get more sleep.

— Roxanne Prichard, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
But its rise is sometimes put down to an online meme—an aversion to holes had a moment on the mid-2000s Internet.

— Gabriela Galvin, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of put down

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“Cracked down (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cracked%20down%20%28on%29. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cracked down (on)

verb

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