drastic

adjective

dras·​tic ˈdra-stik 

1

: acting rapidly or violently

a drastic purgative

2

: extreme in effect or action : severe

drastic measures

made drastic changes

Examples of drastic in a Sentence

The situation calls for drastic measures.

Maybe we should try something less drastic first.

Recent Examples on the Web

The frustration many Americans feel has created an environment where drastic changes, even when harmful, are seen as preferable to the status quo. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025

The launch of bridal, according to Gupta, was partially also because of the drastic changes in the British luxury retail landscape, with key retail partners like Farfetch and Matchesfashion going bankrupt. —Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 9 Apr. 2025

With three games left in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, the Denver Nuggets embarked upon a drastic shakeup. —Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

Through the drastic changes at DeepMind since 2023, Hassabis has continued in his other CEO role at Isomorphic. —Hayden Field, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin drāsticus, borrowed from Greek drāstikós "active, energetic, (of medication) acting rapidly," from drāst-, stem of drā́stēs "doer, performer" (from drā-, variant stem of dráō, drân "to do, perform" + -tēs, agentive suffix, with analogical -s-) + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at drama

First Known Use

circa 1691, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for drastic

• clastic
• mastic
• plastic
• spastic
• aeroelastic
• ecclesiastic
• elastoplastic
• enthusiastic
• iconoclastic
• interscholastic
• megaloblastic
• osteoblastic

Kids Definition

drastic

adjective

dras·​tic ˈdras-tik 

1

: acting rapidly or violently

2

: severe in effect : harsh

had to take drastic measures

drastically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

drastic

1 of 2 adjective

dras·​tic ˈdras-tik 

: acting rapidly or violently

—used chiefly of purgatives

drastically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

drastic

2 of 2 noun

: a powerful medicinal agent

especially : a strong purgative