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

As a result, the council was forced to make drastic cost cuts, resulting in the sacking of 600 staff, closure of community centers, reduction of household waste collections, and even turning down the brightness of its streetlights. —Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 3 May 2024

How, then, did the fungi nestled in the gut cause such drastic changes in the immune system located elsewhere—all the way down to the stem cells? —Maggie Chen, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek drastikos, from dran to do

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