procrustes Definition
- 1(in Greek mythology) a bandit who forced travelers to lie down on a bed and then stretched them to fit it, or cut off their legs to make them fit
- 2a person or thing that ruthlessly conforms to a certain standard or pattern
Using procrustes: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "procrustes" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The company's procrustean approach to design stifled creativity.
Example
He was a procrustean teacher who expected all his students to learn at the same pace.
Example
The government's procrustean policies failed to address the needs of marginalized communities.
procrustes Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for procrustes
Antonyms for procrustes
Phrases with procrustes
Procrustean bed
an arbitrary standard to which exact conformity is forced, often resulting in harm or injustice to those who do not conform
Example
The school's Procrustean bed of standardized testing left many students feeling discouraged and disengaged.
Procrustean solution
an approach to problem-solving that tries to force a complex situation into a simplistic framework, often resulting in oversimplification and distortion of the facts
Example
The government's Procrustean solution to the healthcare crisis failed to take into account the diverse needs of different communities.
Procrustean justice
a system of justice that applies the same punishment to all offenders, regardless of the circumstances of their crime
Example
The judge's Procrustean justice resulted in many innocent people being punished for crimes they did not commit.
Origins of procrustes
from Greek 'Prokroustes', meaning 'the stretcher'
Summary: procrustes in Brief
In Greek mythology, 'Procrustes' [proh-krus-teez] was a bandit who forced travelers to fit into a bed by stretching them or cutting off their legs. In modern usage, 'procrustean' refers to a person or thing that rigidly conforms to a certain standard or pattern, often to the detriment of others. Examples include 'The company's procrustean approach to design stifled creativity.' and 'The school's Procrustean bed of standardized testing left many students feeling discouraged and disengaged.'
