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 Pistons’ payroll is increasing annually with drastic raises upcoming for not only Duren and Thompson, but potentially Ron Holland II as well, who’s eligible for a rookie-scale extension next offseason. — Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Once the Rockets broke the shame seal and stole away with Olajuwon, the league needed to take drastic measures, because everyone would now feel emboldened to make a mockery of the game. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026

Almost everything Saturday was a drastic improvement from last year’s 3-9 season. — Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

The drastic change also sparked seven Miami-Dade municipalities to band together against it. — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 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