precipitous

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

Synonyms of precipitous

• 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

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

Perhaps if the team authors a more precipitous decline and those gaps grow, there will be a more serious conversation about conducting a selloff. —Chandler Rome, New York Times, 25 May 2026

The Toronto Maple Leafs booted Craig Berube after experiencing the loss of Mitch Marner to Vegas in the offseason and then the NHL’s most precipitous drop in the standings, from 108 points to 78. —Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 25 May 2026

Closures are part of an ongoing effort to shutter, amalgamate or repurpose campuses throughout the district in response to a precipitous decline in enrollment. —Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 20 May 2026

For industry analysts, the lack of such Hollywood-event movies is the latest evidence of a film business in precipitous decline. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

French précipiteux, from Middle French, from Latin precipitium precipice

First Known Use

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