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
The drastic change in temperatures will settle in by Thursday, July 31, with highs in the mid to upper 70s, according to The Weather Channel.
—
Abigail Adams, People.com, 28 July 2025
Before this drastic step, there should have been research on what the realities are on car ownership rates throughout the city and surveys — an inventory — of available street parking in each community, followed by thoughtful planning, followed by thorough community feedback.
—Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025
But as a result of recent drastic and unlawful changes in trade policy, this American success story — and the jobs of its hundreds of U.S. employees in Michigan — could be wiped out in a matter of months.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 26 July 2025
Compared with some of the other drastic tariffs that Trump imposed, a 17 percent price bump on Mexican tomatoes hardly portends the tomato-pocalypse.
—Rachel Sugar, The Atlantic, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for drastic
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Abigail Adams, People.com, 28 July 2025
Before this drastic step, there should have been research on what the realities are on car ownership rates throughout the city and surveys — an inventory — of available street parking in each community, followed by thoughtful planning, followed by thorough community feedback.
—Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025
But as a result of recent drastic and unlawful changes in trade policy, this American success story — and the jobs of its hundreds of U.S. employees in Michigan — could be wiped out in a matter of months.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 26 July 2025
Compared with some of the other drastic tariffs that Trump imposed, a 17 percent price bump on Mexican tomatoes hardly portends the tomato-pocalypse.
—Rachel Sugar, The Atlantic, 24 July 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 5 Aug. 2025.
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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