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

If a November ballot measure to increase sales tax funding fails and no new revenue becomes available, the agency is bracing for drastic cuts and fare increases. —Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 28 Mar. 2026

Last year, SpaceX reached a nearly $20 billion deal with Boost Mobile’s parent, EchoStar, to acquire a slice of radio spectrum that promises to give Starlink Mobile a drastic performance increase, offering 5G speeds to users on the ground. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026

Karsh told the Pioneer Press that tenant complaints against Quadrel began last March when renters from one of their residential properties, located at 929-935 Michigan Avenue, noticed a drastic increase in rent following their lease renewal offer. —Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026

After a warm week, North Texas is seeing a drastic cool down this weekend. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 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