formal
1
: very steep
a precipitous slope
2
: happening in a very quick and sudden way
There has been a precipitous decline/drop in home sales recently.
People were shocked by his precipitous fall from political power.
3
: done too quickly and without enough thought or planning
a precipitous [=precipitate] action
Cite this Entry
“Precipitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/precipitous. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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