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- pronunciation:
- drae
stihk
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective), Word History
part of speech: |
adjective |
definition 1: |
severe or extreme; radical.
The urgency of the situation called for drastic measures to prevent injury and loss of life.The decision to quit medical school was a drastic one, but he never regretted it.- synonyms:
- extreme, fanatical, rabid, radical, ultra
- antonyms:
- moderate
- similar words:
- excessive, harsh, immoderate, inordinate, intemperate, severe, violent
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definition 2: |
acting with great speed, force, or impact; violent.
A drastic emetic was used to induce vomiting.- synonyms:
- fierce, mighty, powerful, strong, violent
- similar words:
- forceful, harsh, intense, potent, puissant, rabid, severe
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related words: |
acute, revolutionary, sharp |
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derivation: |
drastically (adv.) |
Drastic comes from an ancient Greek word that means "effective," or "thing to be done." In the 1600s, a strong medicine with that acted with force on the body was called a "drastic." "Drastic" was first used to mean "extreme" or "severe" in the early 1800s.
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