Origin:
The word comes from the Athenian lawgiver Draco, who was known for creating a legal code in the 7th century BC that was extremely strict and unforgiving. His code included the death penalty for even minor offenses, leading to the phrase "draconian laws" to describe laws that are excessively harsh and cruel.
Example:
* "The new government introduced draconian measures to control the spread of the virus."
Synonyms:
* Severe
* Harsh
* Cruel
* Ruthless
* Inflexible
* Rigorous
Antonyms:
* Lenient
* Merciful
* Moderate
* Humane
* Forgiving