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

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

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

This precipitous drop in the number of disputes taken to the WTO comes even as more states adopt protectionist trade measures contrary to WTO rules. —Kristen Hopewell, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2024

The number of applications climbed as the city and the country experienced a precipitous rise in violent crime. —Marin Cogan, Vox, 5 Aug. 2024

Sadly, LeMahieu has battled injuries and a precipitous decline in performance while still owed $30 million over the next two seasons according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. —Wayne G. McDonnell, Jr., Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024

Virgin Galactic went public through a SPAC merger in 2019, but the company's stock price has been on a precipitous decline. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French précipiteux, from Middle French, from Latin precipitium precipice

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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