Definition of draconian
1
law
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Draco or the severe code of laws held to have been framed by him
Updated on: 13 Apr 2018
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Examples of draconian in a Sentence
The editorial criticizes the draconian measures being taken to control the spread of the disease.
Recent Examples of draconian from the Web
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Republicans who run Congress would face extreme pressure to consider whether the President's actions merit such draconian action.
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Shocker: neither do similarly draconian rules for cheerleaders across the country.
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While players are governed by draconian rules, coaches can enjoy the fruits of the free market.
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Malaysia’s government on Monday proposed new legislation to outlaw fake news with a 10-year jail term for offenders, in a move slammed by critics as a draconian bid to crack down on dissent ahead of a general election.
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So much for corporate caution; no private-sector restructuring would promise such draconian cost cuts without first thinking through whether they could be achieved while keeping the business running.
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That is the foundation of the draconian money-bail scheme that places a price tag on freedom for the most occupied and economically exploited communities in this nation.
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The good news is that Trump proposed a similarly draconian budget last year, and Congress ignored it.
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Often slow play is just a manifestation of poor play, particularly among high handicappers, and Canter is cautious of draconian measures.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'draconian.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 preexistent laws, but its severity is what made it really memorable. In Draco's 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 things cruel or harsh. Something draconian need not always be as cruel as the laws in Draco's code, though - today the word is used in a wide variety of ways and often refers to measures (steep parking fines, for example) that are relatively minor when compared with the death penalty.
Origin and Etymology of draconian
Latin Dracon-, Draco, from Greek Drakōn Draco (Athenian lawgiver)
DRACONIAN Defined for English Language Learners
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