Word: drastically (adverb)

Associations

"Drastically" means in a way that is severe or very noticeable. It often describes a big change or difference.

• Example 1: "The price of the product increased drastically." This means the price went up a lot.
• Example 2: "He drastically changed his diet." This means he made very significant changes to what he eats.
• Example 3: "The weather can change drastically from summer to winter." This means the difference in weather is very noticeable.

A well-known synonym for "drastically" is "significantly." The main difference is that "drastically" implies a more extreme or severe change, while "significantly" can refer to any important change, not necessarily extreme.

Substitution

You could use words like "severely," "greatly," or "markedly" in place of "drastically."

• "Severely" suggests a strong negative impact.
• "Greatly" indicates a large amount but is less extreme.
• "Markedly" means something is clear and easy to notice but not always as severe.

Deconstruction

The word "drastically" comes from "drastic," which means extreme or severe. The suffix "-ly" turns the adjective "drastic" into an adverb, showing how something is done. The root "drast" comes from the Greek word "drastikos," meaning "effective" or "energetic."

Inquiry

Think about a time when something changed drastically in your life. What was it? How did it affect you? Can you think of other situations where you might use "drastically"? How does it feel to make a drastic decision?