Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. Severe or radical in nature; extreme: the drastic measure of amputating the entire leg; drastic social change brought about by the French Revolution.
- adj. Taking effect violently or rapidly: a drastic emetic.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Effective; efficacious; powerful; acting with force or violence; vigorous: as, a drastic cathartic. Compare cathartic, adjective
- n. A medicine which speedily and effectually purges.
Wiktionary
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. Acting rapidly and violently; efficacious; powerful; -- opposed to
bland .
WordNet 3.0
- adj. forceful and extreme and rigorous
Etymologies
- Greek drastikos, active, from drastos, to be done, from drān, to do.
Examples
“He also blames the so-called quantitative easing monetary policies in countries like the United States for causing what he describes as "drastic fluctuations" in currency exchange rates and commodity prices.”
Voice of America: China Offers Earthquake Condolences to Japan
“In a statement in Pretoria the IFP said the move, which it described as drastic, had to be discussed widely since it impacted negatively on students conducting their studies in Afrikaans.”
“Motoko Rich reported in The Times recently on new research showing that most people who lost their jobs in recent years now make less and have not maintained their lifestyles, with many experiencing what they describe as drastic - and probably irreversible - declines in income.”
“C.ristopher C. Healy, the chairman of the C.nnecticut Republican Party, said Republicans were justified in blocking what he described as a drastic overreaching by Mr. Obama.”
“Speaking at the conclusion of the G20 economic summit this week, President Obama spoke of what he called the drastic decline in U.S. exports over the last several months.”
“Getting people to agree to a rule change, no matter how "drastic," is not cheating.”
“I'm not saying they need to be involved with a child's every internet moment, but the access anyone has to the internet is taken so lightly, and its not up to websites to put in drastic measures in place to keep certain people out.”
Online Distribution of Red Band Trailers Draws Controversy | /Film
“Without slashing the federal government in drastic and politically-unacceptable ways, the deficit in the next two years is still going to be incredibly high -- probably over a trillion dollars both years.”
The Huffington Post: Chris Weigant: Tea Partiers Should Prepare for Disappointment
“Something so drastic is going to have to happen to shake us out of our perfect little worlds that I shudder to think of what that might be.”
What do you think of our great president's idea of opening up the U.S. border?
“Done correctly, this could result in drastic fuel savings.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘drastic’.
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G[r]eek
A collection of words found in English that are either purely Greek or have Greek etymology.
Please add with caution and certainty. Will be regularly updated by me.etymology, philosophy, laconic, disharmony, patriarchic, archaic, phlogiston, aether, aeon, angel, arachnid, rhythm and 322 more...
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GRE Barrons Wordlist
A complete Barron's Wordlist for GRE preparation. Your online flashcard replacement.
abase, abash, abate, abbreviate, abdicate, aberrant, aberration, abet, abeyance, abhor, abject, abjure and 4084 more...
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sophasaurus's list
tactile, facilitate, optimum, balk, release, drastic, galore, corrosive, bedevilments, fierce, deliberate, potential and 13 more...

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