The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
adj. Severe or radical in nature; extreme: the drastic measure of amputating the entire leg; drastic social change brought about by the French Revolution.
adj. Taking effect violently or rapidly: a drastic emetic.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
adj. Acting rapidly and violently; efficacious; powerful; -- opposed to bland.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
Effective; efficacious; powerful; acting with force or violence; vigorous: as, a drastic cathartic. Compare cathartic, adjective
n. A medicine which speedily and effectually purges.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
adj. forceful and extreme and rigorous
Word Usage
"He also blames the so-called quantitative easing monetary policies in countries like the United States for causing what he describes as "drastic fluctuations" in currency exchange rates and commodity prices."