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

Taken to an extreme, an ever-evolving idea of retirement could outlive drastic institutional change, perhaps enduring longer than the institutions of American democracy or beyond climate disaster. —Trevor Jackson, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026

Nutty brown hazelnut hair color gives brunette hair a soft warmth without a drastic change. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026

Additionally, the judge took the rare and drastic step of permanently dismissing all legal claims brought by Brigandi’s client, San Diego resident Joanne Couvrette, against her brothers in the winery dispute. —Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026

While hair shedding is a natural part of the hair growth cycle, hair loss can happen to either men or women, and is much more drastic, gradual and occurs when the follicle stops growing new hair. —Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 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