crack down on

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inveigh v.
muzzle v.
punish v.
quash v.
suppress v.

VERB

inveigh

Synonyms

STRONG

admonish berate blast castigate censure condemn except expostulate kick lambaste object protest rail recriminate remonstrate reproach roast scold scorch trash upbraid vituperate

WEAK

go after have at jump down one's throat lay into lay out let have it read out rip into sound off tongue-lash work over

Antonyms

STRONG

accept agree allow approve compliment flatter laud praise uphold

VERB

muzzle

Synonyms

STRONGEST

censor choke clamp down on muffle repress restrain squelch stifle suppress

STRONG

check cork curb hush ice prevent quieten restrict shush silence squash still stop tongue-tie trammel

WEAK

bottle up dry up dummy up shut down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allow encourage let go permit release

STRONG

aid assist free help

WEAK

liberate

VERB

punish

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abuse chastise correct discipline dismiss execute expel fine harm hurt incarcerate sentence

STRONG

batter beat blacklist castigate chasten cuff debar defrock exile flog immure injure lash lecture maltreat misuse oppress paddle reprove scourge spank switch train whip

WEAK

attend to beat up do in give a going over give the works knock about rap knuckles rough up slap wrist teach a lesson throw the book at

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist benefit compliment help preserve welcome

STRONG

boost guard lose praise protect surrender

WEAK

award exonerate let go reward

VERB

quash

Synonyms

STRONGEST

annul clamp down on invalidate overrule repeal rescind reverse revoke set aside squelch undo vacate veto void

STRONG

abrogate discharge dissolve kill negate overthrow vitiate

WEAK

black out bottle up cork up declare null and void hush up put damper on put the lid on shut down watergate

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allow approve do enforce keep permit sanction validate

WEAK

aid assist help rebuild start support

VERB

suppress

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abolish censor conceal contain cover up crush curb cut off muzzle overcome overthrow put an end to put down quash quell quench repress silence snuff out stamp out stifle subdue withhold

STRONG

annihilate bottle burke check clamp conquer extinguish interrupt muffle overpower shush smother spike squash stop trample

WEAK

beat down bring to naught hold back hold down hold in keep in keep secret put kibosh on put lid on sit on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid allow assist build up compliment encourage give in help let go permit praise release sanction start support surrender yield

STRONG

light open

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.

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crack down on

Germany has carried out its first raids under a new law to crack down on smugglers using the country as a staging post for small boat crossings on the English Channel, the BBC has learned.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Amodei urged policymakers to crack down on “industrial-scale distillation.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We are taking action to crack down on cosmetic cowboys and root out dangerous practices."

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

The millionaire lawyer will take office on August 7 and has pledged to crack down on armed groups, partly by forging military partnerships with the United States and Israel.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

“You are. They’re going to crack down on you for signing Washington Irving’s name to all those letters you’ve been signing Washington Irving’s name to. How do you like that?”

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

crack down on

Example Sentences

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