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

Some businesses have taken drastic measures to protect their staff from rude customers. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025

Melissa Gilbert supports Little House reboot: 'There's plenty of room' for new stories Forty-one years ago today, NBC aired Little House: The Last Farewell, in which the people of Walnut Grove take drastic measures to keep a tycoon from taking possession of their town. —Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 6 Feb. 2025

In just two weeks, Donald Trump has made drastic changes to the Environmental Protection Agency. —Lisa Song, ProPublica, 5 Feb. 2025

The singer unveiled a drastic hair transformation while out and about in New York City on Wednesday, January 30. —Robyn Merrett, StyleCaster, 30 Jan. 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

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