drastically

IPA/ˈdræstɪkli/
KK[drˈæstɪkli]IPA/ˈdræstɪkli/

drastically — adverb

1. to an extreme degree, creating a change that is large enough to be noticed immed

1.adverbB2
Definition

to an extreme degree, creating a change that is large enough to be noticed immediately or felt strongly

Example

After the flood, James and his neighbors drastically cut their water use.

collocation: drastically cut [use/spending]

The fever dropped drastically once the doctor started the stronger medicine.

Common collocations
  • change drastically
  • cut drastically
  • reduce drastically
  • improve drastically
  • be drastically different
Synonyms
  • sharply

    more neutral and especially common with numbers, prices, and rates

  • dramatically

    emphasizes how striking or surprising the change feels

  • radically

    suggests a root-level change in nature or structure, not just size

Antonyms
  • gradually

    shows a slow change that happens step by step

  • slightly

    marks only a small degree of change

Grammar Patterns

drastically + change/cut/reduce/improve

be/look drastically different

Usage Note

Most often used with verbs and adjectives that describe a large change, such as cut, reduce, change, improve, or different. It often suggests a result people notice quickly, and many contexts carry a serious tone even when the change is positive.

Common Mistakes

The apartment is drastically now.
The apartment looks drastically different now.
'drastically' usually describes how something changes, not a state by itself.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

'Drastically' points to a very large change that people quickly notice and often feel as serious. 'Sharply' is more neutral and is especially common with figures such as prices, rates, and temperatures. 'Dramatically' highlights how striking the result looks to an observer, while 'radically' suggests change at the root or basic structure of something. A budget may be cut drastically, prices may rise sharply, a makeover may change someone's look dramatically, and a company may radically change how it operates.

drastically ↗sharply ↗dramatically ↗radically

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • change drastically
  • cut drastically
  • be drastically different

Etymology

GreekModern English

Built from the adjective 'drastic' and the adverb ending '-ally'. 'Drastic' traces back to Greek 'drastikos', meaning able to act or produce an effect, and in modern English it developed the stronger idea of something severe or far-reaching.

First known use

1850

1850, in the meaning defined above