drastic

adjective

dras·​tic ˈdra-stik How to pronounce drastic (audio)
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 Other game developers, like Massive Monster, were more drastic, which, via the official account for its game Cult of the Lamb, threatened to delist the game entirely. Ash Parrish, The Verge, 14 Sep. 2023 Without drastic changes, what’s left of Alabama’s season will be picked clean before October. Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 9 Sep. 2023 Udoka was popular among Celtics players, some of whom still are confused why management took such drastic action. Gary Washburn, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023 This slight reduction will allow your body to adjust without experiencing drastic changes. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Sep. 2023 Still, for those not keen to spend up to $200,000 on a facelift, there are less drastic alternatives. Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2023 And as consumers have experienced less drastic price jumps, their expectations for future inflation have come down. Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2023 Once embedded in the facility, the participants quickly realize that the conditions are too much to bear, forcing Sheriff Dance to take drastic measures to save the program. Josie Howell | Jhowell@al.com, al, 31 Aug. 2023 While the changes aren't drastic—this is a mid-cycle refresh, not an entirely new design—the improvement in the styling is noticeable. Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 31 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drastic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Greek drastikos, from dran to do

First Known Use

circa 1691, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of drastic was circa 1691

Dictionary Entries Near drastic

Cite this Entry

“Drastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drastic. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

drastic

adjective
dras·​tic ˈdras-tik How to pronounce drastic (audio)
1
: acting rapidly or violently
2
: severe in effect : harsh
had to take drastic measures
drastically adverb

Medical Definition

drastic

1 of 2 adjective
dras·​tic ˈdras-tik How to pronounce drastic (audio)
: acting rapidly or violently
used chiefly of purgatives
drastically adverb

drastic

2 of 2 noun
: a powerful medicinal agent
especially : a strong purgative

More from Merriam-Webster on drastic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!