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

Another mathematician, James Grime, made the problem more accessible by translating it into a puzzle narrative, involving someone held captive between angry snakes in front of them and a precipitous cliff behind them. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026

He is also held responsible by many for the precipitous decline in Israel’s international standing and for jeopardizing Israel’s crucial alliance with the United States. — Dov Waxman, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 2026

Unfortunately, the Huskies took a precipitous fall when Coach Edsall high tailed it out of Connecticut for Maryland. — Eric Womack, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026

His rise to global superstardom was followed by a precipitous fall. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 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