<p>Drought is a major environmental stressor that significantly impairs plant growth and development by disrupting physiological and biochemical processes. This study evaluated the physiological responses, biochemical alterations, and growth performance of three carpet grass (<i>Axonopus compressus</i> (Sw.) P. Beauv.) accessions—A-38, A-58, and A-59—under varying levels of drought stress. Drought stress inhibited growth in all accessions, as evidenced by increased production of reactive oxygen species such as superoxide radicals (O₂·⁻; 23–90%) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂; 36–107%), along with a 12–30% rise in electrolyte leakage and a reduction in photosynthetic pigments by up to 75%. These adverse effects intensified with increasing drought severity. However, the accumulation of proteins, soluble sugars, phenolics, and free proline under severe stress conditions contributed to osmotic adjustment, thereby improving cellular water potential. The activities of key enzymatic antioxidants—catalase (18–30%), peroxidase (7–22%), superoxide dismutase (10–19%), and ascorbate peroxidase (8%)—alongside non-enzymatic antioxidants—oxidized glutathione (4–12%) and reduced glutathione (6–18%)—were upregulated with increasing drought stress in all accessions except A-38. Among the tested accessions, A-58 exhibited superior drought tolerance, attributed to its more robust antioxidative defense system and higher expression of stress-responsive genes, enabling it to mitigate drought-induced oxidative damage more effectively. This study underscores the importance of understanding plant adaptive responses to drought and provides insights for developing resilient crops. The findings support strategic interventions—including targeted crop breeding, optimized management practices, and biotechnological approaches—to improve plant resilience in the face of increasing abiotic stresses.</p>