precipitous

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​cip·​i·​tous pri-ˈsi-pə-təs 

1

: precipitate sense 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

precipitously adverb

precipitousness noun

precipitousness

2 of 2

noun

pre·​cip·​i·​tous·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being precipitous

Synonyms of precipitous

Adjective

• hurried
• rushed
• sudden
• impulsive
• headlong
• hasty
• rash
• reckless
• rapid
• overhasty
• precipitate
• abrupt

Choose the Right Synonym for precipitous

steep, abrupt, precipitous, sheer mean having an incline approaching the perpendicular.

steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult.

a steep hill

a steep dive

abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level.

a beach with an abrupt drop-off

precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical.

the river winds through a precipitous gorge

sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse.

sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers

Examples of precipitous in a Sentence

Adjective

There has been a precipitous decline in home sales recently.

People were shocked by his precipitous fall from political power.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In enacting the president’s priorities, the administration oversaw precipitous drops in border crossings and increased the number of people held in detention and deported. — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 16 July 2026

Stemming the precipitous decline in reading is not a next-generation issue. — Jen Benka, Time, 14 July 2026

The Thelon made its most precipitous drop nearly 50 miles downstream from Lynx Lake. — John Todd, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026

That’s become critically important since attracting college-age students has — and will — become more difficult due to a precipitous decrease in that group’s population, known as the demographic cliff. — Editorial, Boston Herald, 6 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French précipiteux, from Middle French, from Latin precipitium precipice

First Known Use

Adjective

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for precipitous

• serendipitous

Kids Definition

precipitous

adjective

pre·​cip·​i·​tous pri-ˈsip-ət-əs 

1

: showing unwise and unnecessary haste : rash

a precipitous act

2

: steep like a precipice

a precipitous slope

precipitously adverb

precipitousness noun