draconian

adjective

dra·​co·​ni·​an drā-ˈkō-nē-ən How to pronounce draconian (audio)
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 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 The penalties can be draconian, but typically, the penalty for a non-willful violation is $10,000. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024 The rest of the Valley appeared to have been horrified by the candidate—particularly by his draconian and racist views on immigration, on which the tech industry relies. Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 15 Oct. 2024 The ensuing crackdown by administrators spilled over into Barnard, where Grosso feels new policies restricting campus speech are even more draconian than Columbia's. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 13 Oct. 2024 Fed officials then launched a series of draconian rate hikes in 2022 in an effort to correct their mistake and stuff the inflation genie back into the bottle. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for draconian 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'draconian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of draconian was in 1752

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Dictionary Entries Near draconian

Cite this Entry

“Draconian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/draconian. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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