What does "crackdown" mean?

Abruptly stern measures or disciplinary action; increased enforcement.

Crackdown

Common synonyms include: censorship, clampdown, clampdowns, dragnet, enforcement action, intense enforcement period.

noun

noun ·2 syllables ·Rare ·Advanced level

Noun

1
Abruptly stern measures or disciplinary action; increased enforcement. countable, uncountable
"After a harsh police crackdown last week fueled anger and swelled protests, President Dilma Rousseff, a former guerrilla who was imprisoned under the dictatorship and has now become the target of pointed criticism herself, tried to appease dissenters by embracing their cause on Tuesday."
2
severely repressive actions wordnet

"The police began a crackdown on illegal parking."

Deverbal from crack down.