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

That case is still ongoing, despite a pretty drastic turnover at the DOJ. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025

Per the trailer, the duo decide that her hair must go and end up shaving it off — a drastic change that Stone embraced, cutting off her naturally blond locks for the role. —Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025

Outside of being lefty and undersized, neither of them has similar traits, but both will battle it out in a game that each team wants to win; otherwise, some drastic changes could be coming for both sides. —Jon Conahan, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025

Make a more drastic roster move The Rangers could look to acquire a scorer on the trade market. —Peter Baugh, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025

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