2 syllables: dras, tic. Stress on dras.
DRAS-tik
/ˈdɹæstɪk/
drastic is pronounced DRAS-tik (/ˈdɹæstɪk/). It has two syllables (dras-tic), with the stress on "dras". Drastic describes actions or measures that are severe, extreme, or far-reaching in effect. It conveys a strong, often sudden impact or change, typically implying a decisive or radical nature. In usage, it often modifies words like measures, changes, or reactions to emphasize intensity.
Drastic describes actions or measures that are severe, extreme, or far-reaching in effect. It conveys a strong, often sudden impact or change, typically implying a decisive or radical nature. In usage, it often modifies words like measures, changes, or reactions to emphasize intensity.
- You may flatten the first vowel to a more centralized sound (like /a/ or /e/), producing /ˈdræZtɪk/ with unclear /æ/. Correct by emphasizing a crisp /æ/ as in 'cat', not a schwa. - You might mispronounce the /dr/ cluster by starting with a weak /d/ or an over-rolled /r/. Practice the /dr/ onset: touch-tongue to alveolar ridge and release with a quick, light /d/ followed by a clear /r/. - The final /t/ can be too soft or fused with /ɪ/ or /k/, producing /ˈdræstɪk/ with weak release. Ensure a clean stop: /t/ release into /ɪ/ then /k/.
"The government announced drastic cuts to the budget."
"They implemented drastic reforms to the education system."
"The storm caused drastic damage to the coastal town."
Pronounced /ˈdræstɪk/. Stress falls on the first syllable: DRAS-tik. Start with the /dr/ cluster, then /æ/ as in 'cat', follow with /s/ and a clear /t/ before /ɪ/ and final /k/. In rapid speech, the /t/ may be softened, but avoid a weak or elided final consonant. Audio references: Cambridge and Oxford dictionaries offer pronunciation audio; Forvo has native speaker variants.
Two common errors: 1) Misplacing the stress on the second syllable (dra-STIC). 2) Using a long /iː/ or /ɪ/ too early (dræ-STE?). Correct by maintaining /æ/ in the first vowel and keeping /t/ crisp before /ɪ/. Ensure the final /k/ is released clearly after the syllable peak.
US/UK/AU share /ˈdræstɪk/ with stress on the first syllable. Differences appear in vowel quality: US /æ/ can be broader and more lax, UK /æ/ often more clipped, AU may have slightly broader diphthongs around /ɪ/. Non-rhotic tendencies in some UK varieties won’t affect this word due to the presence of a clear /k/ final. Accent variation is usually in vowel height and duration rather than core consonants.
The difficulty lies in maintaining a sharp /æ/ vowel in stressed first syllable, a rapid /dr/ onset without tripping, and a crisp /t/ before the /ɪ/; many speakers blend the /t/ with neighboring sounds or flub /æ/ to /eɪ/. Also, the final /k/ must land cleanly after a short /ɪ/; avoid voicing changes that turn it into /tɪk/ or /stɪk/ without release.
The word has a three-consonant onset /dr/, which challenges beginners who string together /d/ and /r/ distinctly. The vowel /æ/ is short and clearly contrasts with /ɪ/ in the second syllable; many learners mispronounce as /ˈdræstɪk/ with a prolonged /æ/ or misplace stress to /dræˈstɪk/. Maintaining a steady, non-aspirated /t/ before /ɪ/ helps produce a natural, native-like rhythm.
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- US: /ˈdræstɪk/ with a flatter /æ/; keep /r/ lightly rhotic if applicable; tall-fronted tongue arch. - UK: /ˈdræstɪk/ rhoticity varies; maintain tighter jaw and crisper /t/; slight vowel lengthening after /æ/ may occur in some accents. - AU: /ˈdræstɪk/ may have a shorter /æ/ and a more centralized /ɪ/; avoid adding vowel length to avoid /ˈdɹæːstɪk/. IPA notes help align with local norms.
Drastic comes from the Latin drasticus, from Greek drastikos, meaning ‘able to seize or grasp’ or ‘active, powerful.’ The root drast- relates to grasp or action, connected to the verb drasthai ‘to seize’ in ancient Greek. The term entered English via Late Latin and Old French in the 17th–18th centuries, gaining its modern sense of ‘extreme, radical’ in the context of measures or reactions. Early uses described surgical or drastic consequences, then broadened to general intensification. The word is closely tied to the idea of decisive action with strong impact, often carrying negative or urgent connotations in contemporary usage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "drastic" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "drastic" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "drastic"
-tic sounds
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