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
Officials said taking away the licenses could have drastic repercussions for countless industries that rely on commercial drivers and worsen the serious shortage of bus drivers currently impacting New York’s schoolchildren and their families. —
Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026 Reshoots aren’t necessarily uncommon, but rather than needing to add or reconfigure a few scenes, Michael needed a drastic overhaul. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026 Since Bukele took office in 2019, government statistics show a drastic drop in homicides. —Marcos Aleman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026 Many attribute the delays to a drastic decrease in DOJ staffing and an executive order requiring additional layers of review by political officials before grants can be solicited and awarded. —Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for drastic
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026 Reshoots aren’t necessarily uncommon, but rather than needing to add or reconfigure a few scenes, Michael needed a drastic overhaul. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026 Since Bukele took office in 2019, government statistics show a drastic drop in homicides. —Marcos Aleman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026 Many attribute the delays to a drastic decrease in DOJ staffing and an executive order requiring additional layers of review by political officials before grants can be solicited and awarded. —Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for drastic
Cite this Entry
“Drastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/drastic. Accessed 26 Apr. 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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