draconian

adjective

dra·​co·​ni·​an drā-ˈkō-nē-ən 

drə-

variants often Draconian

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 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

Those draconian measures were never fully enforced. —Helen Regan, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026

In a drive to move Germany toward economic self-sufficiency, Hitler had imposed draconian tariffs, refused to honor foreign-debt obligations, and sought to wean the nation off Norwegian whale-oil consumption. —Timothy W. Ryback, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026

The government hadn’t yet adopted all of these broad, new draconian detention rules. —Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2026

Banned from nearly all jobs by the Taliban government’s draconian restrictions on women, widows with children are especially vulnerable. —ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for draconian

• baconian
• devonian
• estonian
• hasmonean
• newtonian
• pannonian
• senonian
• amazonian
• babylonian
• hamiltonian
• parkinsonian

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