precipitous

pre·cip·i·tous

adjective \pri-ˈsi-pə-təs\

Definition of PRECIPITOUS

1

: precipitate 2

2

a : very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging in rise or fall <a precipitous slope>

b : having precipitous sides <a precipitous gorge>

c : having a very steep ascent <a precipitous street>

— pre·cip·i·tous·ly adverb

— pre·cip·i·tous·ness noun

Examples of PRECIPITOUS

1. There has been a precipitous decline in home sales recently.
2. People were shocked by his precipitous fall from political power.

Origin of PRECIPITOUS

French précipiteux, from Middle French, from Latin precipitium precipice

First Known Use: 1646

Related to PRECIPITOUS

Synonyms

cursory, drive-by, flying, gadarene, headlong, helter-skelter, hurried, overhasty, pell-mell, precipitate, hasty, rash, rushed

Antonyms

deliberate, unhurried, unrushed

Related Words

breakneck, breathtaking; headstrong, heady, hotheaded, impatient, impetuous, impulsive, madcap, reckless, unadvised; quick, rapid, speedy, swift; horseback, impromptu, makeshift, offhand, offhanded, off-the-cuff, rush, slapdash, snap, spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment; abrupt, sudden

Near Antonyms

calculated, calculating, measured; circumspect, foresighted, forethoughtful; drawn-out, extended, long-term, prolonged; faltering, hesitant, hesitating, tentative; dallying, dawdling, laggard, leisurely, poky (or pokey), shilly-shallying, slow

See Synonym Discussion at steep

Rhymes with PRECIPITOUS

peripatus