Draconian

[ drey-koh-nee-uhn, druh- ]

/ dreɪˈkoʊ ni ən, drə- /

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See synonyms for Draconian on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Also Draconic .

Origin of Draconian

First recorded in 1810–20; <Latin Dracōn- (stem of Draco) + -ian

OTHER WORDS FROM Draconian

Dra·co·ni·an·ism, noun

Words nearby Draconian

drachma, drack, Draco, draco lizard, dracone, Draconian, draconic, draconic month, Draconid, Dracula, Dracula, Count

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Draconian in a sentence

Human rights groups, however, said the measures were “draconian” and counter-productive.
To Stop ISIS, Britain Is Set to Stop Free Speech|Nico Hines|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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. Consumerism|Dina Goldstein|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A top National Institutes of Health official called the quarantines “draconian.”
Are Mandatory Ebola Quarantines Legal?|Tim Mak|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The holiday may see more Hongkongers hit the streets, which in turn could provoke the authorities to take more-draconian measures.
Occupy Hong Kong Hangs On|Lennox Samuels|September 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I fear the latter, given the draconian governmental measures over a single case, but time will tell.
It’s Not Time to Worry About China’s Plague Just Yet|Kent Sepkowitz|July 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To walk these two miles per diem is a Draconian law which I impose upon myself during all seasons of the year.
The Arena|Various
He read the sentence through three times, and then recollected that he had not looked up the Draconian reforms.
The Cruise of the Dazzler|Jack London
Turlough was unquestionably somewhat Spartan in his severities, if not Draconian in his administration of justice.
An Illustrated History of Ireland from AD 400 to 1800|Mary Frances Cusack
If there are exceptions who do not subscribe to these Draconian laws of the Parisian code, they are solitary examples.
Father Goriot|Honore de Balzac
As the spoliation went on, the decrees became more and more Draconian.
France and the Republic|William Henry Hurlbert

British Dictionary definitions for Draconian

draconian

draconic (dreɪˈkɒnɪk)

/ (dreɪˈkəʊnɪən) /

adjective (sometimes capital)

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

Derived forms of draconian

draconianism, noun

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