Procrustean

[ proh-kruhs-tee-uhn ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or suggestive of Procrustes.
2. (often lowercase) tending to produce conformity by violent or arbitrary means.

Procrustean

/ prəʊˈkrʌstɪən /

adjective

1. tending or designed to produce conformity by violent or ruthless methods

Word History and Origins

Origin of Procrustean¹

First recorded in 1640–50; Procruste(s) + -an

Example Sentences

If you’re the parent of a child with special needs who’s felt the cold procrustean hands of the public school system, you know what this father is up against.

From Washington Post

Perhaps it’s worth mentioning here that zero — that’s zero — Syrian refugees allowed into the U.S. through our procrustean refugee program have been involved in a fatal terrorist attack.

From Salon

At bottom, net neutrality has become a procrustean fetish.

From Wall Street Journal

Alas, antitrust’s procrustean prejudice against cooperative acts by competitors stands in the way.

From Wall Street Journal

There are historical and political reasons why Pakistan is what one writer has called a "procrustean hell".

From The Guardian

Related Words

• ruthless