Definitions
01extreme or severe
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. extreme and sudden, usually used to describe a big change or a serious action.
adj. characterised by an extreme, radical, or severe nature; often used to describe measures taken to resolve a difficult situation.
Español:drástico
“The company had to make drastic changes to save money and avoid closing.”
“The government implemented drastic measures to curb inflation, including a sudden and significant increase in interest rates that surprised the markets.”
02rapid and violent
C2 · Proficiency Medicine Archaic · Technical
adj. acting very quickly and with great force.
adj. acting with speed and violence; often used in older medical contexts to describe the effect of a treatment.
“The patient was given a drastic remedy to clear the poison from his system.”
“Nineteenth-century physicians often resorted to drastic purgatives, believing that a violent physical reaction was necessary to expel the disease.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “drastic” in context.
Adjective
01. drastic challenge
“The sudden loss of funding presented a drastic challenge to the survival of the research project.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Losing 4-0 at Brighton is not going to do much for morale but it will make a team take drastic action in the market.” “That’s a condition called “ run of river ,” which could result in drastic cuts to the Lower Basin’s water supply.” Etymology
From Ancient Greek δραστικός (drastikós, “active, efficient”), from δρᾶσις (drâsis, “strength, efficacy”), itself from δράω (dráō, “to do”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/drastic
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0