drastic
[ dras-tik ]
/ ˈdræs tɪk /
adjective
acting with force or violence; violent.
extremely severe or extensive: a drastic tax-reduction measure.
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Nearby words
draper, john william, draper, ruth, drapery, drapes, drappie, drastic, drat, dratted, drau, draught, draughtboard
Origin of drastic
1685–95; < Greek drastikós active, equivalent to drast(ós) (verbal adjective of drân to do) + -ikos -ic
Related formsdras·ti·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for drastic
British Dictionary definitions for drastic
drastic
/ (ˈdræstɪk) /
adjective
extreme or forceful; severe
Derived Formsdrastically, adverb
Word Origin for drastic
C17: from Greek drastikos, from dran to do, act
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for drastic
drastic
1690s, originally medical, "forceful, vigorous, especially in effect on bowels," from Greek drastikos "effective, efficacious; active, violent," from drasteon "(thing) to be done," from dran "to do, act, perform." Sense of "extreme, severe" is first recorded 1808. Related: Drastically.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper