How to say "drastic" in Japanese

• 大幅おおはばJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounFor 'drastic' describing a change in size or amount — a drastic cut, rise, or revision — this word stresses how large the change is rather than how radical the method is.
  この政策せいさくで物価ぶっかは大幅おおはばに値上ねあがりした。↗

  This policy resulted in a great rise in prices.
• ドラスチックCommon
  na-adjectiveThe direct loanword: use it where English would say 'drastic' — drastic changes or measures — carrying the same strong, severe nuance as the English word itself.
• 抜本的ばっぽんてきCommon
  na-adjectiveCovers 'drastic' in the sense of radical — change that goes to the roots of a system rather than merely being large. Typical context: fundamentally reviewing or reforming a system, structure, or policy.
  システム全体ぜんたいを抜本的ばっぽんてきに変かえなければ、この欠点けってんを克服こくふくすることは困難こんなんである。↗

  It is difficult to overcome this shortcoming without drastically changing the whole system.
• めまぐるしいCommon
  i-adjectiveFits 'drastic' only as in rapid, dizzying change — conditions or circumstances that change so fast you can hardly keep up. It is about speed and bewildering pace, not about severe measures; usually written in kana.
  ここ数すう日じつ天気てんきがめまぐるしく変かわっている。↗

  We've had all kinds of weather over the past few days.
• 果断かだんCommon
  na-adjective, nounFor 'drastic' only in the sense of decisive — bold, resolute action or decision-making. It describes how one acts, not the scale of a change, so it is seldom the word for 'drastic change'.

For large changes in degree use 大幅, for radical root-and-branch reform 抜本的, for dizzyingly rapid change 「めまぐるしい」, for decisive bold action 果断, while 「ドラスチック」 is the direct loanword for 'drastic' itself.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 大幅おおはばbig
• ドラスチックdrastic
• 抜本的ばっぽんてきdrastic
• めまぐるしいdizzying (speed, changes, etc.)
• 果断かだんdecisive
• 急激きゅうげきsudden
• 思い切ったおもいきったbravely
• 抜本ばっぽんdrastic