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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
Walz also defended his COVID policies that critics branded as draconian, leading to multiple — and ultimately unsuccessful — lawsuits, including over mask mandates.
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Stephen Swanson, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Spend less time talking about tips, which Colorado conforms to and won’t be subject to state or federal income tax up to the level designated in HR1 and instead focus on lowering interest rates, costs and bringing down the price of goods ahead of Christmas by eliminating these draconian tariffs.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Elders could have pushed leaders to heed early warning signs when the virus first started spreading, in 2020, and forced Xi to relax his draconian policies sooner as the pandemic dragged on into its second and third years.
—Deng Yuwen, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
If regulations don’t change, says Hahn, the only options left are to start stocking more fish on the North Platte or, even more draconian, limit the number of anglers.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for draconian
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Stephen Swanson, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Spend less time talking about tips, which Colorado conforms to and won’t be subject to state or federal income tax up to the level designated in HR1 and instead focus on lowering interest rates, costs and bringing down the price of goods ahead of Christmas by eliminating these draconian tariffs.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Elders could have pushed leaders to heed early warning signs when the virus first started spreading, in 2020, and forced Xi to relax his draconian policies sooner as the pandemic dragged on into its second and third years.
—Deng Yuwen, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
If regulations don’t change, says Hahn, the only options left are to start stocking more fish on the North Platte or, even more draconian, limit the number of anglers.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for draconian
Cite this Entry
“Draconian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/draconian. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.
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