draconian
Excessively punitive laws
Draconian describes laws, measures, or punishments that are excessively harsh or severe: draconian budget cuts, draconian sentencing guidelines.
The word comes from Draco, an ancient Athenian lawgiver whose legal code prescribed death for even minor offenses.
The sense has broadened to any rules or actions considered unreasonably strict or cruel.
Unpleasantly severe or rough
- brutalSavagely harsh or severe
- cruelWillfully causing suffering
- mercilessShowing no clemency
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
extreme · severe · unsparing · pitiless · relentless · inhumane · barbaric · savage
Severely exact and demanding
- rigidUnable to bend
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
- exactingDemanding great care
rigorous · stern · demanding · austere · restrictive · tight · ironclad · unbending
Unconscious blocking of thoughts
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
subjugation · control · persecution · authoritarianism · totalitarian · despotic · autocratic · iron-fisted
Penalty for an offense
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- fineAcceptable in quality
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
retribution · discipline · crackdown · enforcement · prosecution · zero-tolerance · mandatory · sentencing
Binding principle or regulation
- statuteEnacted written rule
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- measureUnit of quantity
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
decree · edict · ordinance · policy · code · restriction · ban · prohibition
harsh
Unpleasantly severe or rough
ruthless · extreme · severe · unsparing · pitiless · relentless · inhumane · barbaric · savage · punishing
stringent
Severely exact and demanding
- rigidUnable to bend
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
exacting · rigorous · stern · demanding · austere · restrictive · tight · ironclad · unbending · unforgiving
repression
Unconscious blocking of thoughts
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
coercion · subjugation · control · persecution · authoritarianism · totalitarian · despotic · autocratic · iron-fisted · heavy-handed
punishment
Penalty for an offense
sentence · retribution · discipline · crackdown · enforcement · prosecution · zero-tolerance · mandatory · sentencing · forfeiture
law
Binding principle or regulation
- statuteEnacted written rule
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- measureUnit of quantity
mandate · decree · edict · ordinance · policy · code · restriction · ban · prohibition · curfew
- oppressivestifling, suffocating, smothering, crushing, repressive
- Mythological WordsAchilles heel, Adonis, aegis, ambrosia, Apollo
- strictsevere, stern, harsh, rigid, firm
draconianlibertarian
Anti-statist political adherent
permissive · humane · liberal · laissez-faire · tolerant
draconianmerciful
Disposed toward forgiveness
forgiving · clement · compassionate · benevolent · charitable