Meaning & use
draconian
Last updated
Extremely harsh or severe, especially referring to laws or punishments.
See it in a sentence
Critics called the new curfew a draconian measure that punished all residents for a few offenders.
The company's draconian dress code banned even minor personal touches.
A note on using this word
Derives from Draco, an ancient Athenian lawmaker known for harsh legal codes; capitalized only when referring to him directly.
Words with a similar meaning
harshsevere
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
lenient
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