/ ˈdræstɪk; NAmE ; BrE also ˈdrɑːs-/ adjective
extreme in a way that has a sudden, serious or violent effect on sth :
drastic measures / changes
The government is threatening to take drastic action .
a drastic shortage of food
Talk to me before you do anything drastic.
► dras·tic·al·ly / -kli; NAmE / adverb :
Output has been drastically reduced.
Things have started to go drastically wrong.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 17th cent. (originally applied to the effect of medicine): from Greek drastikos , from dran do.