What Does Draconian Mean?

The word draconian is taken from Draco. Draco was Athenian politician who established the laws of Athens. These laws were severe and thus were unpopular among people. Draco and his laws were known for impartiality. Thus, when something is referred to as draconian, it is said to be exceedingly harsh or very severe. It carries the qualities of Draco. For example: a draconian legal code. In this example, draconian refers to a legal code or legal rule that is considered to be very harsh or severe. Another example: draconian budget cuts, draconian measures, and draconian forms of punishment.

Some words that are synonymous to draconian could be: intemperate, merciless, harsh, callous, ruthless, savage, sever, tyrannical, unfeeling, unkind, unmerciful, pitiless, rigorous, and cruel. Acrimonious, binding, compelling, confining, drawing, demanding, exacting, forceful, picky, poignant, inflexible, persnickety, powerful, rigorous, stiff, tight, tough, and puritanical are some other words that could be used for draconian.

The term draconian is taken after the Athenian politician named Draco. He codified the laws in ancient Athens during the seventh century B.C. The laws were made when he was the eponymous archon (literally king) of Athens. These laws were very harsh and severe. He had laid down death penalties even for minor offences. There are many examples of his cruelties and severities. Any person, who had taken debt from a person of a status higher than his own, was forced to be a slave for his creditor. This punishment became more severe for those who used to lend something to the members of lower class.

He believed that brutality of punishment prevented minor crimes and death penalty was the only punishment he could think of for major crimes. Thus, draconian came to be used as a word synonymous to severe or oppressive.