Definition of "drastically"

The corn ration was drastically reduced, and it was announced that an extra potato ration would be issued to make up for it.

1945 August 17, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter 7, in Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg

It explains why a Democratic Congress foisted Prohibition on the country and a Republican Congress drastically legislated to enforce it, when ordinarily the two parties are only too anxious for any political stick to beat each other with.

1920, America, volume 22, page 255

Seldom have democratic principles been so drastically enacted into law.

1928, The Atlantic Monthly, volume 141, page 558

A uniform marriage and divorce law must be drastically enacted by the Central Government and rigidly administrated by the higher courts.

1933, The China Critic, volume 6, page 428