draconian

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɹəˈkəʊ.ni.ən/, /dɹækˈəʊ.ni.ən/
• (US) enPR: drā-kō'ni-ən, drə-, IPA^(key): /dɹeɪˈkoʊ.ni.ən/, /dɹəˈkoʊ.ni.ən/

• Audio (US):

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• Rhymes: -əʊniən

From Latin Dracō (stem Dracōn-) +‎ -ian,^[1] from Ancient Greek Δράκων (Drákōn), after the Athenian lawmaker Draco, known for making harsh laws. See δράκων (drákōn, “dragon”).

• Draconian

draconian (comparative more draconian, superlative most draconian)

1. Very severe, cruel, or harsh.

   Synonyms: draconic, draconical (both rare, dated), Orwellian, rigid, rigorous, strict, stringent

   The Soviet regime was draconian.

   The mayor announced draconian budget cuts today.

   • 2009, Stuart Macintyre, A Concise History of Australia, page 125:

     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 […]

   • 2020 April 8, Howard Johnston, “East-ended? When the ECML was at risk”, in Rail, page 65:

     Perhaps lessons had already been learned from the Draconian infrastructure cuts on the Waterloo-Exeter route.

   • 2023 May 8, Jonathan Head, “Thailand election: The young radicals shaking up politics”, in BBC News (World)‎:

     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.

From Latin dracō (“dragon”) (stem dracōn-) +‎ -ian.

draconian (comparative more draconian, superlative most draconian)

1. (obsolete, except in fiction) Of or resembling a dragon.
   • 2006, Steven Erikson, Deadhouse Gates, Book Two, →ISBN, page 384:

     The dragon came low to the earth. It defied every image of a draconian being Kulp had ever seen.

   • 2009, Jacob Silvia, Qhoenix, page 73:

     A large sandwyrm (which isn't to be confused with a sandworm) popped its draconian head from the earth.

• (resembling a dragon): draconic, draconine, dragonish, dragonlike, dragony

• Conradian, Rinconada, noncardia

Borrowed from French draconien.

draconian m or n (feminine singular draconiană, masculine plural draconieni, feminine and neuter plural draconiene)

1. draconian