Cruel
Cruel adjective - Having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others.
Usage example: cruel and unusual punishments are forbidden by the U.S. Constitution
Draconian is a synonym for cruel in merciless topic. In some cases you can use "Draconian" instead an adjective "Cruel", when it comes to topics like callous, ruthless.
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
- Standard Imperial policy is only so outrageously cruel and draconian because otherwise they would get suckerpunched by every out of context problem in the galaxy (for reference, soul-eating psychic jellyfish out of nowhere are one of the more expected, planned-for, and familiar threats).
Source: Outside-Context Problem -
Severe Misery (a college AU story) turns Sally Acorn, Bunnie Rabbot, Nicole Lynx, and Fiona Fox into cruel Alpha Bitches who run a shady sorority that engages in Draconian natured hazing rituals for the heck of it.
Source: Ron the Death Eater
Cite this Source
Draconian and Cruel. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 02, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/draconian
Cruel & Draconian. N.p., 2016. Web. 02 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/draconian>.
Draconian or Cruel. 2016. Accessed August 02, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/draconian.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "cruel" and "draconian" have occurred on timeline