draconian

adjective

dra·​co·​ni·​an drā-ˈkō-nē-ən 

drə-

often capitalized

1

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

2

: cruel

also : severe

draconian littering fines

Did you know?

Draconian comes from Drakōn, the name (later Latinized as Draco) of a 7th-century B.C. Athenian legislator who created a written code of law. Drakōn’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, is used especially for 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

As the first Republican candidate to win the poorest third of Americans since the 1960s, President Trump's own voters would be disproportionately denied access to care from these draconian cuts. —Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025

Boyer levied draconian taxes in order to pay back the loans. —Marlene L. Daut, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025

To be fair, not everyone perceives the AI Act in such draconian terms. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

American science is the envy of the world, but this global leadership is now threatened by draconian cuts to federal support of biomedical research through the defunding of grants and drastic reductions in funding for essential research costs and infrastructure. —Dr. Ardem Patapoutian, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin Dracon-, Draco, from Greek Drakōn Draco (Athenian lawgiver)

First Known Use

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for draconian

• baconian
• devonian
• estonian
• hasmonean
• newtonian
• pannonian
• senonian
• amazonian
• babylonian
• hamiltonian
• parkinsonian

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