1
as in hurried
acting or done with excessive or careless speed
soon regretted our precipitous actions in international affairs
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2
as in steep
having an incline approaching the perpendicular
a precipitous ski slope that fully merits its triple diamond designation
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Recent Examples of precipitous
If Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. doesn’t reverse course, American patients will suffer and half a century of US leadership in pharmaceutical innovation could come to a precipitous end.
—
Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 15 Apr. 2025
Such is the precipitous fall and virtual disappearance of Stone from the music scene.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 6 May 2025
At times, their giant trunks appeared to offer the only potential salvation from one wrong move and a plunge over terrifyingly precipitous drops into raging rivers below.
—Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 5 May 2025
Most of all, the lawyers noticed the precipitous drop in Mary’s weight under county custody.
—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precipitous
Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 15 Apr. 2025
Such is the precipitous fall and virtual disappearance of Stone from the music scene.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 6 May 2025
At times, their giant trunks appeared to offer the only potential salvation from one wrong move and a plunge over terrifyingly precipitous drops into raging rivers below.
—Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 5 May 2025
Most of all, the lawyers noticed the precipitous drop in Mary’s weight under county custody.
—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precipitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precipitous
Adjective
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This comes as the Trump administration has faced growing criticisms for its hurried proceedings to remove as many noncitizens from the country as quickly as possible.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2025
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In Alentejo, food is meant to be shared, and time at the table is never hurried, and this is a central element of the experience at São Lourenço do Barrocal.—
Monica Mendal,
Vogue,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Those numbers reported by authorities Tuesday reflect a steep increase from 2024, when cops answered just under 4,000 calls for service, made only 20 DUI arrests and reported no deaths from crashes over the three-day weekend.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
27 May 2025
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Talks with China, which imposed tit-for-tat tariffs on the U.S., are ongoing after both countries agreed to lower steep tariffs.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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This would create an inherent instability in the market in the event of sudden price movements or unexpected macroeconomic news.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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The 2014 retirement of Malcolm (who died in 2017) and sudden spring 2016 departure of Johnson due to the risk of complete hearing loss threw shade on the future.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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Grandchildren who are close to grandparents are more secure, perform better in school and are less impulsive.—
Mark Gerson,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2025
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Lori, impulsive and headstrong in her own way, won’t let Ruth slip away so easily.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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This momentary pause, this saving interruption of the headlong, breathless trajectory of rape or murder, admitted a kind of compassion, pity, even tenderness, halting injustice in its tracks.—
Sarah Beckwith,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
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But swirling around it are immigration restrictions, headlong and haphazard reductions in Federal spending and a separate but related confidence shock weighing on consumer behavior.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But hasty responses can backfire, with organizations learning the hard way that maintaining trust is far easier than rebuilding it once it’s been lost.—
Lynn Godfrey,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
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Out West, where the mood is presumably less colored by existential dread, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the must-see Thunder take on Anthony Edwards and a Timberwolves team that hopes to make everyone forget their hasty exit from last year’s Conference Final.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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Ellie is rash and impulsive; Dina is lovestruck; Jesse is loyal and selfless.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2025
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For instance, entrepreneurs under chronic stress might make rash business investments without considering long-term profitability.—
Shane Enete,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Mark Dial, a former Philadelphia police officer who fatally shot a motorist during an August 2023 traffic stop, faces up to six years in prison as a jury convicted him of voluntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and possessing an instrument of crime, but acquitted him of murder charges.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 May 2025
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The student was taken into custody and transported to the Meriden Police Department where they were charged with first-degree arson, reckless burning, first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree breach of peace.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precipitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precipitous. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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