drastic consequences

USAGE SUMMARY

"drastic consequences" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize the serious repercussions of an action. For example, "The government's decision to cut funding for education could have drastic consequences for the future of the country."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Reference

Social Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That will have drastic consequences, because U.S. dollars may provide most of the contraceptives.

The New York Times

But there would be fairly drastic consequences if an event occurs".

The New York Times

Rebels in Korhogo warned the government of drastic consequences if they were attacked.

The New York Times

Mr. Murtha rejected the suggestion of layoffs and other drastic consequences.

The New York Times

Even a slight change in this precariously controlled violence can have drastic consequences on Earth.

The New York Times - Science

He said that the rising sea level could have drastic consequences for the wetlands and other ecosystems.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Sanctions on the bank would have drastic consequences for Iran's economic transactions mostly dominated by the powerful Revolutionary Guards.

The Guardian - Opinion

Scientists have warned the cuts could have drastic consequences for UK physics, including the potential closure of some university departments.

The Guardian

But analysts feared the action would go ahead, with drastic consequences for British Airlines and its passengers.

The Guardian - Travel

Li notes that 50% of the world's population now lives in urban areas and many of the most drastic consequences of climate change are felt in cities.

Cornell University

The financial consequences of market failure continue to take centre stage with drastic consequences for economies, services, jobs and living standards.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "drastic consequences", ensure the severity of the outcome aligns with the gravity implied by the phrase. Reserve it for situations where the repercussions are genuinely significant.

Common error

Avoid using "drastic consequences" for trivial matters. Overusing it dilutes its impact and can make your writing seem hyperbolic or insincere. Choose more moderate language when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drastic consequences" functions as a noun phrase, where "drastic" modifies the noun "consequences". As shown by Ludwig, it describes the severity or seriousness of the outcomes resulting from a particular action or situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

24%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drastic consequences" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that highlights significantly negative outcomes. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for various contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific and academic writing. While versatile, it is important to reserve its use for situations where the severity aligns with the phrase's gravitas to avoid diluting its impact. The related phrases, such as "severe ramifications" or "dire outcomes", provide alternative ways to express similar ideas with nuanced emphasis. Overall, the analysis confirms that "drastic consequences" is a powerful and appropriate phrase when used judiciously to underscore the importance of potential repercussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severe ramifications

Replaces "consequences" with "ramifications", emphasizing the far-reaching and complex nature of the outcomes, and "drastic" with "severe", stressing the intensity of the effects.

serious repercussions

Substitutes "consequences" with "repercussions", highlighting the indirect and often unintended effects, and "drastic" with "serious", underlining the gravity of the outcomes.

dire outcomes

Replaces "consequences" with "outcomes", focusing on the final result, and "drastic" with "dire", emphasizing the catastrophic nature of the result.

grave implications

Substitutes "consequences" with "implications", pointing to the potential future effects, and "drastic" with "grave", stressing the weighty and concerning nature of the effects.

major fallout

Replaces "consequences" with "fallout", suggesting widespread and negative effects, and "drastic" with "major", indicating the significant extent of the effects.

catastrophic results

Replaces "consequences" with "results", focusing on the end product, and "drastic" with "catastrophic", highlighting the disastrous and devastating nature of the end result.

critical aftermath

Substitutes "consequences" with "aftermath", emphasizing the period following an event, and "drastic" with "critical", underscoring the urgency and importance of the situation following the event.

negative repercussions

Focuses specifically on negative effects using "negative", maintaining a general sense of impact through "repercussions."

far-reaching effects

Emphasizes the widespread and long-lasting impact of the consequences.

substantial impact

Highlights the significant and considerable effect of the consequences.

FAQs

What are some synonyms for "drastic consequences"?

Alternatives include "severe ramifications", "serious repercussions", or "dire outcomes", depending on the context.

How to use "drastic consequences" in a sentence?

Example: "The company's failure to innovate could have "drastic consequences" for its market share."

What kind of situations warrant the use of "drastic consequences"?

"Drastic consequences" are appropriate when discussing situations with significantly negative and far-reaching impacts, such as policy changes, environmental disasters, or critical business decisions.

Is "drastic consequences" a formal or informal phrase?

"Drastic consequences" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is more commonly found in news, academic, and professional writing due to its serious tone.