Draconian
[drey-koh-nee-uh n, druh-]
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the Athenian statesman Draco, or his severe code of laws.
- (often lowercase) rigorous; unusually severe or cruel: Draconian forms of punishment.
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Also Draconic.
Origin of Draconian
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
oppressive, strict, cruel, severe, heavy-handed, drastic, brutal, exorbitant, extreme, roughExamples from the Web for draconian
Contemporary Examples
Human rights groups, however, said the measures were “draconian” and counter-productive.
This photograph is a critique of how draconian the rules of society can be.
‘Gods of Suburbia’: Dina Goldstein’s Arresting Photo Series on Religion vs. ConsumerismDina Goldstein
November 8, 2014
A top National Institutes of Health official called the quarantines “draconian.”
I fear the latter, given the draconian governmental measures over a single case, but time will tell.
Draconian punishments were meted out to supposed sinners and traitors.
Saddam’s Former Deputy, the Red Skull of Baghdad, Still at Large in Iraq and Allied With ISISJacob Siegel, Christopher Dickey
July 21, 2014
Historical Examples
There were, however, some exceptions even to this Draconian system.
Mirk Abbey, Volume 3(of 3)James Payn
Which was all very well, if he had only found out what the Draconian reforms were.
The Cruise of the DazzlerJack London
This draconian injunction had to be obeyed, the more so as the lieutenant was labouring under great excitement.
The Birth of Yugoslavia, Volume 2Henry Baerlein
To walk these two miles per diem is a Draconian law which I impose upon myself during all seasons of the year.
The ArenaVarious
What shall we say of the ingenious system of penal laws, which, with Draconian cruelty, was enacted against Catholicity?
draconian
draconic (dreɪˈkɒnɪk)
- of or relating to Draco, 7th-century Athenian statesman and lawmaker, or his code of laws, which prescribed death for almost every offence
- harshdraconian legislation
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for draconian
adj.
1876 (earlier Draconic, implied from 1640s), from Draco, Greek statesman who laid down a code of laws for Athens 621 B.C.E. that mandated death as punishment for minor crimes. His name seems to mean literally "sharp-sighted" (see dragon).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper