as in harsh
formal + disapproving
unnecessarily strict or severe
The editorial criticizes the draconian measures being taken to control the spread of the disease. draconian punishments
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Recent Examples of draconian
The state already imposes a tax $1.10 per $1,000 of sales price and the city of Los Angeles and the city and county of San Francisco recently adopted draconian transfer taxes that tax some properties at 5.5%.
—
John Franklin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
The draconian cuts to the IRS staffing and budget will likely exacerbate this problem.
—David Rae, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
The rationale for some kind of second look, or reconsideration of decades of draconian sentencing, is also compelled by the stark racial disparities that are manifest in life and long-term sentences, disparities that increase with longer sentences.
—Steve Zeidman, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2025
Under the framework, Hong Kong was promised a large degree of legal and economic autonomy—a commitment Beijing was accused of reneging on through its crackdown on democracy and adoption of the draconian National Security Law in 2020.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for draconian
John Franklin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
The draconian cuts to the IRS staffing and budget will likely exacerbate this problem.
—David Rae, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
The rationale for some kind of second look, or reconsideration of decades of draconian sentencing, is also compelled by the stark racial disparities that are manifest in life and long-term sentences, disparities that increase with longer sentences.
—Steve Zeidman, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2025
Under the framework, Hong Kong was promised a large degree of legal and economic autonomy—a commitment Beijing was accused of reneging on through its crackdown on democracy and adoption of the draconian National Security Law in 2020.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for draconian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for draconian
Adjective
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Donald Trump defended his harsh new tariffs on Saturday Night Live this week — and maybe took a swipe at last week’s musical guest, too.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
5 Apr. 2025
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Never one for details, Trump is now clearly linking the harsh 54% tariffs imposed on China on Tuesday to a TikTok deal.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway fared better than the S & P 500 in a brutal week as investors embraced the safety of a cash-rich conglomerate while President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariffs wreaked havoc on Wall Street.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2025
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The game's official website promises a variety of Prospectors to play as, with assets showing what looks like a brutal four-armed brawler and an insectoid-looking alien that can turn invisible.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But when the ruthless Mafia boss Nicola Grimaldi discovers his young son has been kidnapped and murdered, the suspect and Grimaldi’s former friend Vito seeks refuge with police.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2025
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The way to move up in your organization might require being ruthless.—
Roberta Matuson,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Plan Your Trip Charleston, South Carolina The Holy City may be blanketed in humidity in the height of summer, but Charlestonians have figured out all the best ways to deal with the oppressive air.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2025
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Yet history provides no shortage of examples of human courage, even under the most oppressive circumstances.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Everybody else has no choice, really, other than to bring a cruel, narcissistic far-right leader to power.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
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Jokes that didn’t land with the squad The kids in Bad Influence say the pranks were the most cruel.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Draconian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/draconian. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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