draconian
/dɹəˈkoʊ.ni.ən/adjective, noun
draconian is spelled D-R-A-C-O-N-I-A-N: 9 letters and 4 syllables. It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 33,636th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, draconian means “Very severe, cruel, or harsh” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in draconian?
| Letters | 9: D-R-A-C-O-N-I-A-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 33,636th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is draconian?
Draconian appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 33,636th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce draconian?
- UK /dɹəˈkəʊ.ni.ən/
- UK /dɹækˈəʊ.ni.ən/
- US /dɹəˈkoʊ.ni.ən/
Draconian has 4 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-draconian+.ogg, En-us-draconian.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with draconian?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as draconian from its last stressed vowel (/oʊniən/):
- Estonian
- Macedonian
- Caledonian
- Devonian
- amazonian
- hamiltonian
- newtonian
- Ionian
- Jeffersonian
- Washingtonian
- jacksonian
- Catalonian
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of draconian
- more draconian comparative
- most draconian superlative
- draconians plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does draconian mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Very severe, cruel, or harsh.
The mayor announced draconian budget cuts today.
- 2
obsoleteOf, relating to, characteristic of, or resembling a dragon.
noun
- 1
A creature resembling a dragon.
adjective
- 1
Of or relating to Draco, the first legislator of Athens in Ancient Greece.
- 2
Alternative letter-case form of draconian.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Draconian in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense severe, oppressive or strict:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | draconien |
| German | drakonisch, drastisch, entschieden |
| Portuguese | draconiano |
| Spanish | draconiano |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does draconian come from?
From Latin Dracō (stem Dracōn-) + -ian, from Ancient Greek Δράκων (Drákōn), after the Athenian lawmaker Draco, known for making harsh laws. See δράκων (drákōn, “dragon”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).