draconian en · ADJ · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- drā- (US)
- drə-kō'ni-ən (US)
- /dɹækˈoʊ.ni.ən/ (US)
- (US) audio
- /dɹəˈkoʊ.ni.ən/ (US)
- (US) audio
- /dɹəˈkəʊ.ni.ən/ (UK)
- (US)
- /dɹækˈəʊ.ni.ən/ (UK)
Etymology
From Latin Dracō (stem Dracōn-) + -ian, from Ancient Greek Δράκων (Drákōn), after the Athenian lawmaker Draco, known for making harsh laws. See δράκων (drákōn, “dragon”).
Meanings
-
Very severe, cruel, or harsh.
The conflict in the countryside resulted in a far more draconian punishment. The Southern Cross flag flew over the camps of striking shearers, who in revenge for their victimisation burned grass, fences, buildings and even riverboats[…]
2009, Stuart Macintyre, A Concise History of Australia, page 125:The mayor announced draconian budget cuts today.
Perhaps lessons had already been learned from the Draconian infrastructure cuts on the Waterloo-Exeter route.
2020 April 8, Howard Johnston, “East-ended? When the ECML was at risk”, in Rail, page 65:And that movement, while it was eventually crushed through the extensive use of the draconian lese majeste law, shattered the taboo, by calling openly, for the first time, for the powers and financing of the monarchy to be accountable.
2023 May 8, Jonathan Head, “Thailand election: The young radicals shaking up politics”, in BBC News, archived from the original on 23 Aug 2023:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draconian | alternative | lexicographic | |
| more draconian | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most draconian | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Relateds
Synonyms
stringent · rigid · strict · draconic · draconical · Orwellian · rigorous
Translations (29)
bg драконовски (severe, oppressive or strict) · pt draconiano (severe, oppressive or strict) · fi erittäin ankara (severe, oppressive or strict) · af drakonies (severe, oppressive or strict) · nl draconisch (severe, oppressive or strict) · ar شَدِيد الْقُسْوَة (severe, oppressive or strict) · ga danartha (severe, oppressive or strict) · de drakonisch (severe, oppressive or strict) · ca draconià (severe, oppressive or strict) · hy դրակոնյան (severe, oppressive or strict) · ko 엄격(嚴格)하다 (severe, oppressive or strict) · fi drakoninen (severe, oppressive or strict) · cmn 嚴苛的 /严苛的 (severe, oppressive or strict) · el δρακόντειος (severe, oppressive or strict) · cs drakonický (severe, oppressive or strict) · hu drákói (severe, oppressive or strict) · ru драко́новский (severe, oppressive or strict) · de entschieden (severe, oppressive or strict) · gl draconiano (severe, oppressive or strict) · pl drakoński (severe, oppressive or strict) · mk драконски (severe, oppressive or strict) · sv drakonisk (severe, oppressive or strict) · fr draconien (severe, oppressive or strict) · eo drakona (severe, oppressive or strict) · uk драко́нівський (severe, oppressive or strict) · es draconiano (severe, oppressive or strict) · io drakonala (severe, oppressive or strict) · it draconiano (severe, oppressive or strict) · de drastisch (severe, oppressive or strict)