draconian

adjective

dra·co·ni·an drā-ˈkō-nē-ən

drə-

often capitalized

Synonyms of draconian next

law : of, relating to, or characteristic of Draco or the severe code of laws held to have been framed by him

: cruel

also : severe

draconian littering fines

Did you know?

Draconian comes from Draco, the name of a 7th-century B.C. Athenian legislator who created a written code of law. Draco's code was intended to clarify existing laws, but its severity is what made it really memorable. According to the code, even minor offenses were punishable by death, and failure to pay one's debts could result in slavery. Draconian, as a result, became associated with especially authoritative actions that are viewed as cruel or harsh.

Examples of draconian in a Sentence

The editorial criticizes the draconian measures being taken to control the spread of the disease.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

American officials this summer tried a hardball negotiation tactic with allies by warning that the U.S. could directly curb the China sales of foreign companies, a step that Japan and the Netherlands viewed as a draconian overreach. —

Geoff Colvin, Fortune Asia, 28 Nov. 2024 Critics argued the ban is too draconian and that lawmakers have failed to consider the positive traits of social media. —

Filip Timotija, The Hill, 28 Nov. 2024 The Memory Police, a draconian, fear-inspiring squad, ensure these items remain forever forgotten. —

Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 24 Nov. 2024 The justice department, having won a judgment that Google has monopoly power in search, has proposed a draconian remedy: the company must disgorge the Chrome browser. —

Charlie Fink, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for draconian