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 margin with young voters Voters 18 to 29 see a drastic drop off in turnout between presidential and midterm elections. — Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 2 Nov. 2026

In another drastic change, Lake Brantley (5-5), after Friday night’s 56-0 shellacking of Hagerty, moved into the eighth and final 6A Region 1 spot, knocking Hagerty out. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026

The design was a drastic departure from previous Astons, ditching the effortlessly speedy look for a furious, contentious design language with almost cartoonish proportions. — Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2026

This change in roles also leads to a drastic change in the brothers’ destinies. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

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