precipitous

adjective

pri-ˈsi-pə-təs How to pronounce precipitous (audio)
Definition of precipitousnext
1
as in hurried
acting or done with excessive or careless speed soon regretted our precipitous actions in international affairs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in steep
having an incline approaching the perpendicular a precipitous ski slope that fully merits its triple diamond designation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of precipitous Since then, the hangout sitcom has suffered a precipitous decline. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026 In the seven days since its release on YouTube, the first episode of Great American Road Trip has gained only about 20 thousand views, with a precipitous drop as the series goes on (five thousand views for episode six). — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 The bank run in Russia may not be as dramatic or precipitous. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026 These figures also say something about the precipitous fall of ARC in addition to the resilience of Destiny 2. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for precipitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precipitous
  1. hurried
  2. steep
  3. rushed
  4. sudden
  5. impulsive
  6. headlong
  7. hasty
  8. rash
Adjective
  • Dooley emphasized the preliminary nature of the ruling and the hurried nature of the litigation preceding it in a short, 12-page decision.
    — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Chandler Simpson put down a squeeze bunt and Mateo beat third baseman Kevin McGonigle’s hurried flip to the plate.
    — Dave Hogg, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of hurried
Adjective
  • Passengers screamed after spotting the co-pilot stabbing the captain, and the flight from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, to the Israeli city of Tel Aviv began a steep dive.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Offense has been hard to come by for Blashill’s team, so those early holes are steeper compared to others.
    — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of steep
Adjective
  • The teen’s family has said this was a rushed judgment that did not involve a thorough enough investigation.
    — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
  • The rushed and botched release of Apple Intelligence made clear that Apple's AI strategy wasn't fully fleshed out.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz,Zev Fima, CNBC, 10 July 2026
Definition of rushed
Adjective
  • In many such cases, Pennington says, parents will want to give each child an equal inheritance to be fair, but also worry about how the struggling child will fare upon receiving a sudden inheritance.
    — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The account provided directly to Fox News offered a more harrowing description of the sudden descent, with the passenger saying people screamed as overhead compartments opened and power aboard the aircraft went out.
    — Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of sudden
Adjective
  • Before talking yourself out of it, ask whether the risk feels meaningful rather than merely impulsive.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Full moons are emotionally charged, so try not to make any impulsive decisions, at least not right now.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of impulsive
Adjective
  • Expectations for a deal that establishes guardrails on AI are low on both sides, which continue to drive a headlong race toward potentially unfathomable intelligence capabilities.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The main thing stock folks are worried about – the voracious consumption and headlong deployment of capital for AI – is now the thing lifting rates and potentially restraining growth elsewhere.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of headlong
Adjective
  • Over the next few months, Caroline, who wanted to get into the house quickly, and Raymond made hasty decisions to speed up the move-in process.
    — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Over time, these hasty constructions gave way to sites that still define New York, like the vast Reflecting Absence memorial at the World Trade Center site, a garden in northern Manhattan, and a memorial on the shores of Staten Island.
    — Robert W. Snyder, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of hasty
Adjective
  • The viral disease causes a blotchy rash and flulike symptoms but can develop into severe, life-threatening illnesses, such as pneumonia and brain swelling.
    — Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Despite the defense allowing nine third down conversions to the Giants and allowing New York to win the time of possession battle by over 13 minutes, the Cowboys are not making any rash decisions after just one game.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of rash

Browse Nearby Words

precipitation
precipitous
precipitously
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Cite this Entry

“Precipitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precipitous. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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