1
as in hurried
acting or done with excessive or careless speed
soon regretted our precipitous actions in international affairs
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of precipitous
The opportunity to tip into these precipitous, technical venues was most certainly a tantalizing patrol perk.
—
Outside, 18 Dec. 2025
Neither player is at his peak, but neither has had a precipitous fall-off, either.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
The precipitous decline couldn’t be explained by the generational losses of the captive era alone.
—Kelso Harper, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
The Chicago Bears had a rather precipitous drop in Week 14 after losing to the Green Bay Packers 28-21 at Lambeau Field.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precipitous
Outside, 18 Dec. 2025
Neither player is at his peak, but neither has had a precipitous fall-off, either.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
The precipitous decline couldn’t be explained by the generational losses of the captive era alone.
—Kelso Harper, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
The Chicago Bears had a rather precipitous drop in Week 14 after losing to the Green Bay Packers 28-21 at Lambeau Field.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precipitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precipitous
Adjective
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Facing a schedule filled with hurried days, countless steps, and occasions that require outfits equal parts practical and chic?—
Nina Derwin,
Glamour,
8 Jan. 2026
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Niccol has espoused the hopes of returning Starbucks to a cozy third space, away from the image of being a hurried pitstop to pick up a morning espresso, and toward 1990s nostalgia of lingering over a latte.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s where the Kate Spade Outlet comes in, offering polished, functional purses at steep discounts.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Jan. 2026
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The figures, while slightly less than official economists’ estimates, assuaged concerns about a steeper drop in employment.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The rushed start wasn’t the only hiccup.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
9 Dec. 2025
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The national bill – passed on the final day of parliament last year – was criticized at the time as a rushed piece of legislation conceived to win votes before the 2025 election.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
29 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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Excluding disasters, sudden surges of this magnitude in requests for food or any other need are rare at 211s, and can signal both public worry and need, as happened in the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Matthew W. Kreuter,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Instead of impulsive moves, energy goes toward goals that require patience and endurance.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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That fear can contribute to impulsive decisions, overtrading, and emotional fatigue - outcomes sometimes interpreted as personal failure rather than a response to the way risk is structured.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The study, conceived by Karen Froud and published last year, was the first of its kind and should have jolted policymakers and publishers alike into questioning the headlong rush away from print, even as reading scores continue to plummet nationwide.—
John R. MacArthur,
Air Mail,
8 Nov. 2025
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At Houlihan Lokey, Swain persists in the headlong roundelay of networking that’s his calling card.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
1 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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According to reporting from El Dorado Hills community publication Village Life in 2023, Loewen’s hasty exit came months after El Dorado Hills residents voiced concerns over possible ethics and contract violations.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
31 Oct. 2025
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Chief among the clues police have recovered at the scene of Sunday's sensational crime at one of the world's most famous museums are traces of DNA found on items the thieves left behind in their hasty motorbike getaway.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Common measles symptoms include a blotchy rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, pink or watery eyes and white spots on the insides of the cheeks.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
30 Dec. 2025
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Symptoms include fever, rash, cough, red or watery eyes, and a runny nose.—
Jeff Capellini,
CBS News,
28 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precipitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precipitous. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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