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GRE vocabulary

draconian

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore D words

excessively harsh and severe

Word origin: From Draco, an Athenian lawgiver famed for his severe code.

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In a sentence

Draconian in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing draconian in a sentence.

Critics called the curfew draconian and out of proportion to the threat.

Critics argued that the draconian penalties for minor infractions far exceeded any reasonable deterrent.

Synonyms
harshseverepunitive
Antonyms
lenientmildmerciful

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Verbal · Sentence Equivalence

The professor's lectures were notoriously blank; students often left more puzzled than when they had arrived, unable to follow his tangled chains of reasoning.

Select the two answers that give the sentence the same meaning. 0 of 2 selected.

Usage & nuance

Using “draconian” well

Draconian describes laws or measures so harsh as to seem disproportionate to the offense. It is almost always pejorative and is reserved for severity in rules or punishment.

Common questions

Questions about “draconian”

Draconian (adjective) means excessively harsh and severe
Here is draconian used in an example sentence: "Critics called the curfew draconian and out of proportion to the threat." Another example: "Critics argued that the draconian penalties for minor infractions far exceeded any reasonable deterrent."
Common synonyms for draconian include harsh, severe, punitive.
Antonyms of draconian include lenient, mild, merciful.
Clusters with harsh, severe, and punitive in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms lenient, mild, and merciful mark the opposite end of a severity scale.
Yes. Draconian is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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