Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Language: Greek
Origin: drastikos, from dran 'to do'

drastic

 adjective
     
dras‧tic
extreme and sudden
drastic action/measures
NATO threatened drastic action if its terms were not met.
drastic cuts in government spending
Drastic changes are needed if environmental catastrophe is to be avoided.
—drastically adverb:
The size of the army was drastically cut.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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