Prashant Bhushan

Eventually, understanding the motivations of the terrorists and dealing with the injustices that pervade our society, and repairing the institutions of justice, particularly the police and the judiciary, will be a much more effective way of fighting terror, than laws which give more draconian powers to corrupt and insensitive police organisations.

Indian Lawyer

Frances O'Grady

The backwoodsmen are muttering about making Britain's draconian union laws - already among the toughest in Europe - harsher still. And parts of the media will continue to attack public service pensions, as if school meals staff, refuse collectors and healthcare workers have no right to a decent retirement.

British Activist

Greg Boyle

The draconian spirit that seeks to enhance penalties and to lower the age at which juveniles will be tries as adults, is part of the 'whole cloth' of three strikes. Our failure to address the depair of our inner-city youth is only delayed by our over-confidence in a stance that is 'tougher than thou.

American Clergyman

Oneohtrix Point Never

Film work can be anything from just really hard and stressful and you're subjected to really weird deadlines to really draconian and weird and disconnected. You're working in service of the thing, and that can be really amazing for everyone involved, or be kind of just a waste of time.

American Musician

Marian Wright Edelman

Together we can and must fight for justice for our children and protect them from draconian tax cuts and budget choices that threaten their survival, education and preparation for the future. If they are not ready for tomorrow, neither is America.

American Activist

George Pelecanos

It would probably surprise people how prevalent reading is in institutions - and the degree to which some states discourage reading by instituting draconian rules and laws that try to limit and outright roadblock books in prisons.

American Author

Jerry Brown

Pension reform can be hard to talk about. In the long run, reform now means fewer demands for layoffs and less draconian measures in the future. It's in the best interest of all Californians to fix this system now.

American Politician

Patrick Leahy

The rights of copyright holders need to be protected, but some draconian remedies that have been suggested would create more problems than they would solve.

Ash Sarkar

More draconian forms of policing and punishment are no guarantee of a reduction in violent crime.

British Journalist

David Perlmutter

It may seem draconian, but the best recommendation I can make is to completely avoid grains.

American Scientist

Draconian suggests unjust harshness or cruelty, and often criticism.

Negative Connotation

Often used in legal or policy contexts to describe overly harsh rules.

Legal Context

The term originates from Draco, an ancient lawmaker known for strict codes.

Historical Roots

 a tightly regulated exclusion zone, or dead zone, and it's a nuclear police state, complete with border guards. You have to have dosimeter at all times, clicking away, you have to have a government minder, and there's draconian radiation rules

Holly Morris: Why stay...

 collections all around the world right um so draconian laws are probably not the answer um but it really depends on different countries have different laws and legal frameworks um in germany there are some um you know federal states

Reimagining Dinosaurs PIPE...

 the same draconian law that's me I'm knocking at the door knock knock knocking at the door looking at the wall not alone looking at the wall

Draconian

Very severe or strict.

Often appears as...

Usage tips

Negative Connotation

Legal Context

Historical Roots

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