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
Ultimately, when the legislature missed their deadline to come up with a solution and SEPTA made drastic cuts, capital funds were pulled anyway under the direction of Shapiro and PennDOT’s Mike Carroll.
—
Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 29 Dec. 2025
Unfolding with the tension of a heist movie, the film doesn't just entertain as an action thriller but also gives valid reasons as to what led each activist to take such drastic measures in the hope of saving the planet.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025
The storms are being fueled by a drastic clash of warm and cold air as the cold front replaces the spring-like warmth that has covered much of the southern and central US since well before Christmas.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 28 Dec. 2025
Oklahoma City saw a record high of 83 degrees followed by a drastic drop to reach a record low of 17 degrees by midnight.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drastic
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Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 29 Dec. 2025
Unfolding with the tension of a heist movie, the film doesn't just entertain as an action thriller but also gives valid reasons as to what led each activist to take such drastic measures in the hope of saving the planet.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025
The storms are being fueled by a drastic clash of warm and cold air as the cold front replaces the spring-like warmth that has covered much of the southern and central US since well before Christmas.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 28 Dec. 2025
Oklahoma City saw a record high of 83 degrees followed by a drastic drop to reach a record low of 17 degrees by midnight.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drastic
Cite this Entry
“Drastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drastic. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
drastic
1 of 2 adjective
dras·tic
ˈdras-tik 
: acting rapidly or violently
—used chiefly of purgatives
drastic
2 of 2 noun
: a powerful medicinal agent
especially
: a strong purgative
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