drastisch
drastic
Very strong, far-reaching, or radical. Often used to describe measures, changes, or effects.
EXAMPLE
Die Regierung hat drastische Sparmaßnahmen angekündigt.
The government has announced drastic austerity measures.
drastisch
drastic
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Meanings
drastisch
graphic / drastic
Very direct, vivid, and often also crude or unsparing in its depiction.
EXAMPLE
Der Film zeigt mit drastischen Bildern die Folgen des Krieges.
The film shows the consequences of the war with graphic images.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
In the sense of 'radikal' (radical) or 'einschneidend' (far-reaching), 'drastisch' (drastic) often describes nouns that express a change. Common combinations are 'drastische Maßnahmen' (drastic measures), 'drastische Kürzungen' (drastic cuts), or 'eine drastische Veränderung' (a drastic change).
EXAMPLE
Das Unternehmen musste drastische Sparmaßnahmen ergreifen.
The company had to take drastic cost-saving measures.
Use as an adverb
'Drastisch' (drastically) can also be used as an adverb to describe the extent of a change. It then appears with verbs such as 'steigen' (to rise), 'sinken' (to fall), 'reduzieren' (to reduce), or 'erhöhen' (to increase).
EXAMPLE
Die Zahl der Arbeitslosen ist im letzten Quartal drastisch gesunken.
The number of unemployed people fell drastically in the last quarter.
Depiction context
When 'drastisch' describes a depiction, typical combinations are 'drastische Bilder' (graphic images), 'drastische Worte' (drastic words), or 'eine drastische Beschreibung' (a graphic description). It then means 'schonungslos' (unsparing) or 'sehr direkt' (very direct).
EXAMPLE
Der Autor wählt oft drastische Worte, um seine Leser zu schockieren.
The author often chooses drastic words to shock his readers.
Compare with
drastisch vs krass
awesome / extreme
Both words can describe a particularly vivid depiction. „Krass“ usually sounds colloquial and evaluative, while „drastisch“ can also be used objectively for a direct, vivid, and unsparing depiction. „Drastisch“ is therefore a better fit in an objective report.
drastisch
Die Dokumentation zeigt die Folgen des Unfalls drastisch.
The documentary shows the consequences of the accident in a graphic way.
krass
Der Film zeigt die Folgen des Unfalls krass.
The film shows the consequences of the accident in a shocking way.
In real life
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