Synonyms of precipitous

precipitous

adjective

pri-ˈsi-pə-təs 

1

as in hurried

acting or done with excessive or careless speed

soon regretted our precipitous actions in international affairs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hurried
• rushed
• sudden
• impulsive
• headlong
• hasty
• rash
• reckless
• rapid
• overhasty
• precipitate
• abrupt
• cursory
• swift
• drive-by
• makeshift
• flying
• spontaneous
• quick
• breathtaking
• pell-mell
• helter-skelter
• impetuous
• gadarene
• impromptu
• rush
• impatient
• unadvised
• breakneck
• madcap
• speedy
• heady
• headstrong
• hotheaded
• spur-of-the-moment
• slapdash
• horseback
• snap
• offhand
• off-the-cuff
• offhanded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deliberate
• unhurried
• calculated
• prolonged
• measured
• unrushed
• circumspect
• calculating
• long-term
• tentative
• extended
• foresighted
• slow
• faltering
• hesitant
• leisurely
• forethoughtful
• hesitating
• drawn-out
• laggard
• pokey
• poky
• dallying
• dawdling
• shilly-shallying

2

as in steep

having an incline approaching the perpendicular

a precipitous ski slope that fully merits its triple diamond designation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• steep
• mountainous
• abrupt
• vertical
• sheer
• sloped
• bold
• perpendicular
• craggy
• hilly
• tilted
• plumb
• scarped
• angled
• straight
• tipped
• slanted
• inclined
• heeled
• hillocky
• cocked
• listed
• canted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• gradual
• moderate
• soft
• gentle
• smooth
• flat
• level
• horizontal
• even
• flush
• unruffled
• plane
• unwrinkled

Synonym Chooser

How is the word precipitous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of precipitous are abrupt, sheer, and steep. While all these words mean "having an incline approaching the perpendicular," precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical.

the river winds through a precipitous gorge

When might abrupt be a better fit than precipitous?

The meanings of abrupt and precipitous largely overlap; however, abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level.

a beach with an abrupt drop-off

When is sheer a more appropriate choice than precipitous?

In some situations, the words sheer and precipitous are roughly equivalent. However, sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse.

sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers

When would steep be a good substitute for precipitous?

The synonyms steep and precipitous are sometimes interchangeable, but steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult.

a steep hill

a steep dive

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of precipitous

Such precipitous emotional hurdles are just the right height for television, and co-showrunners Andy Parker and Jennifer Cecil embrace the self-doubting turmoil of Cameron’s arduous coming-of-age arc. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025

Pimkie was sold in 2023 by founders Association Familiale Mulliez, following a precipitous decline in foot traffic during and after the pandemic. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 22 Sep. 2025

Though his injuries seem to have grown worse in recent seasons, that would be a precipitous fall for a player who was so recently the best hitter in the sport. —Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025

The AfD became Germany’s second most popular party in federal elections earlier this year, reflecting a precipitous rise from obscurity since its founding in 2013. —Sebastian Shukla, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025