Extremely harsh, severe, or cruel, especially when referring to laws, punishments, or rules.
From Draco, the ancient Athenian lawmaker whose legal code prescribed death for almost any crime, combined with the suffix -ic. The word entered English in the 17th century and maintains the meaning 'excessively severe.'
When English speakers call something 'draconic,' they're summoning the ghost of a 7th-century BCE Athenian judge—it's amazing how one person's infamously tough legal system became our go-to word for unfair harshness!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.