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

There’s a problem with the drastic uptick in Chinese space launches over the last decade. —Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026

In a small percentage of cases (about 3 out of 100 women), the drastic hormonal shifts of childbirth can trigger postpartum thyroiditis. —Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 28 May 2026

The fiscal impact report on the bill also showed a drastic change for state's attorneys' offices across Maryland. —Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 27 May 2026

The shift was so drastic that only 22% of consumer technology imports came from China last year, down from 45% the year before, and 54% in 2022, according to a report from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which represents over 1,200 companies, including Apple, Nvidia, and Sony. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 27 May 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