draconian requirements

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "draconian requirements" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe rules or regulations that are excessively harsh or severe. Example: "The new policy introduced draconian requirements that made it nearly impossible for employees to meet their targets."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

If the onerous and draconian requirements of being a director were to decline, we might revert to a more realistic pattern.

The New York Times

"So basically the bills would allow billionaires to get even more in subsidies, all without taxpayers knowing who they are, while imposing draconian requirements on low-income people," Mr. Faber said.

The New York Times

— Jeff Gordinier The Daily Mail: A Craigslist line-chef help-wanted posting for FARMbloomington Restaurant, in Bloomington, Ind., demanded 44 draconian requirements that included never calling in sick and happily working several double shifts in a row without a day off.

The New York Times

At the other end of the spectrum, data sharing is barely allowed, with such draconian requirements and specifications that sharing is effectively impeded.

Journal of Big Data

The loan officers know their clients and have a pretty good idea who is trustworthy, but senior management is imposing draconian requirements that demand, in effect, that small business borrowers prove they don't need the money.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Indeed, "it should make business easier, by making the rules clearer".He adds that the government has already given ground by dropping an even more draconian requirement: that Brazilians' data be held on servers in Brazil.

The Economist

Pakistan is the world's only nation that imposes this barbaric and draconian requirement.

Huffington Post

But the draconian new requirements and her harsh sentence make it unlikely that many women will choose this option, even though Hungarian hospital obstetrics leaves a lot to be desired.Hungary has many dedicated and hard-working doctors, but much of the medical establishment remains patriarchal, hierarchical and old-fashioned.

The Economist

With less than 5percentt of the world's population but nearly 25percentt of its incarcerated population, the United States imprisons more people than any other nation in the world -- in large part due to misguided drug laws and draconian sentencing requirements that have produced profoundly unequal outcomes for communities of color.

Huffington Post

The Bush administration's decision to scrap the draconian consent requirement from the patient privacy rules should be bemoaned by no one, least of all consumer advocates.

The New York Times

But it also reflects draconian new legal requirements placed on broadcasters.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "draconian requirements", ensure the context clearly demonstrates the excessive severity or harshness of the requirements being described. Overuse can diminish the impact, so reserve it for truly extreme situations.

Common error

Avoid using "draconian requirements" when the conditions are merely strict or challenging. Ensure the situation genuinely warrants the descriptor of being exceptionally harsh and oppressive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "draconian requirements" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "draconian" modifies the noun "requirements". Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "draconian requirements" is used to describe excessively harsh or severe rules or conditions. It is grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, and appears most frequently in news and media contexts. While alternatives like "severe stipulations" or "harsh demands" exist, "draconian requirements" carries a specific connotation of oppressiveness that should be considered when choosing the most appropriate term. Its impact is most effective when reserved for situations that genuinely warrant the descriptor of being exceptionally harsh.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severe stipulations

Replaces "draconian" with "severe" and "requirements" with "stipulations", maintaining the sense of strict conditions.

harsh demands

Substitutes "draconian" with "harsh" and "requirements" with "demands", emphasizing the demanding nature of the conditions.

strict regulations

Replaces "draconian" with "strict" and "requirements" with "regulations", focusing on the formalized nature of the conditions.

rigid guidelines

Substitutes "draconian" with "rigid" and "requirements" with "guidelines", highlighting the inflexibility of the conditions.

onerous conditions

Replaces "draconian requirements" with a phrase that encapsulates the burdensome aspect of the conditions.

stringent provisions

Uses "stringent" to emphasize the demanding nature and "provisions" to refer to the specific parts of the requirements.

oppressive mandates

Emphasizes the burdensome and controlling aspect using "oppressive" and "mandates".

uncompromising terms

Highlights the inflexibility of the "requirements" by calling them "uncompromising terms".

exacting specifications

Replaces "requirements" with "specifications" focusing on the precision and high standards.

inflexible preconditions

Uses "preconditions" to describe requirements that must be met before something else can happen, emphasizing their inflexibility.

FAQs

What does "draconian requirements" mean?

"Draconian requirements" refers to rules or conditions that are excessively harsh, severe, and often considered oppressive. The term "draconian" alludes to the severe laws of Draco, an Athenian lawgiver.

How can I use "draconian requirements" in a sentence?

You might say, "The company's new policy imposed "draconian requirements" on employee performance, leading to widespread dissatisfaction." Alternatively, consider describing "severe stipulations".

What are some alternatives to "draconian requirements"?

Alternatives include "harsh demands", "strict regulations", or "onerous conditions". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the term "draconian requirements"?

Use "draconian requirements" when the rules or conditions are not only strict but also seem excessively cruel or oppressive, going beyond what is reasonably necessary to achieve a legitimate goal. Reserve it for situations involving extreme measures.