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Showing results for draconian. Search instead for dracheneiern.
Definitions

draconian

[drey-koh-nee-uhn, druh-] / dreɪˈkoʊ ni ən, drə- /
ADJECTIVE
harsh
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cruel drastic heavy-handed oppressive severe strict
WEAK
brutal exorbitant extreme rough very severe
Antonyms
STRONGEST
easy gentle mild permissive temperate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Everything fell: oil prices, the dollar, even gold, because investors were shocked by how unsophisticated and draconian the policy was.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

Rights groups have denounced the sentence as "draconian" and "egregious".

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

Human Rights Watch has condemned the AL ban as "draconian".

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

The Tour’s board is majority players at this point, and some wanted more draconian punishment for Koepka than others.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

No municipality in all of America had ever taken such draconian action.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly