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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
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.
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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
Set in the not-so-distant future, the eight-episode limited series begins in 2047 where a major ecological crisis has spawned FedSur, a coalition of South American countries that imposes draconian measures to safeguard the environment and combat widespread hunger and violence.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
The city has enacted a more aggressive policy stance to limit the impacts of tent and vehicle encampments — panned as draconian by some advocates — in conjunction with its heavy investment in interim housing solutions.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for draconian
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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
Set in the not-so-distant future, the eight-episode limited series begins in 2047 where a major ecological crisis has spawned FedSur, a coalition of South American countries that imposes draconian measures to safeguard the environment and combat widespread hunger and violence.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
The city has enacted a more aggressive policy stance to limit the impacts of tent and vehicle encampments — panned as draconian by some advocates — in conjunction with its heavy investment in interim housing solutions.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 13 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 3 Dec. 2025.
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