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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of precipitous
Voyager's stock price has been in a precipitous decline since then.
—
Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 28 July 2025
This time around, Clark was captaining her team from the sidelines, and critics of the league seemed eager to point out the precipitous drop in ratings.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 27 July 2025
All three indices had seen precipitous drops earlier in the day after the news of Powell’s imminent firing broke.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 16 July 2025
In the second half of the 20th century, after Interstate 40 ripped Jefferson Street in two and catalyzed the precipitous decline of the historic Black district, the Tennessee State University marching band began its ascent.
—Andrea Williams, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for precipitous
Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 28 July 2025
This time around, Clark was captaining her team from the sidelines, and critics of the league seemed eager to point out the precipitous drop in ratings.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 27 July 2025
All three indices had seen precipitous drops earlier in the day after the news of Powell’s imminent firing broke.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 16 July 2025
In the second half of the 20th century, after Interstate 40 ripped Jefferson Street in two and catalyzed the precipitous decline of the historic Black district, the Tennessee State University marching band began its ascent.
—Andrea Williams, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for precipitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precipitous
Adjective
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Some sequences feel hurried, some satirical dialogue is a little too on the nose and a special effect around the climax lacks the polish of the production design elsewhere.—
Leila Latif,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
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Additionally, hurried or reactive infrastructure development may expose the investor to significant foreign asset reporting and tax burdens (NCTI, for example) that could have been mitigated if a multi-disciplinary framework had been considered.—
Priya Prakash Royal Esq. LL.M. MBA AEP TEP,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Some technology geeks may indeed be attracted to these features, though there are trade-offs here, and steep ones, as many normies will also find these features absolutely infuriating.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Trump’s immigration crackdown is at odds with his efforts to bring foreign money into the US and could unsettle trade talks with South Korea, which in July pledged $350 billion in investments in exchange for being spared steep tariffs.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The storm reshaped the coastline, forcing a rushed build and rebuild of the course.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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In her post, the 27-year-old shares how a rushed layover and a tight schedule turned a simple flight connection into an emotional ordeal.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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The condition causes sudden weakness or paralysis in muscles on one side of the face and is, in most cases, temporary, according to the Mayo Clinic.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Reflective self-talk while performing tasks gives you self-regulation and prevents the lightning-fast, reflexive emotional self-talk from making impulsive decisions that lead to errors and mistakes.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Ari is a rich kid from New York, who is an impulsive motormouth desperate for Sam’s affection.—
Esther Zuckerman,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In the headlong rush for technological supremacy, strange new risks are being created.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
27 Aug. 2025
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Befitting the down-and-out semis, Analog Devices put up good numbers, causing a headlong rush into internet of things (IoT).—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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These works are what happens when excess sentiment meets shallow conception and hasty commissioning.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
30 Aug. 2025
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As the announcer remarks upon how the normally meticulous and unflappable Haines is playing with an uncommon aggression, Hitchcock’s urgent camerawork and rapid cuts show Guy, pressed for time and needing to make a hasty exit, playing at a pace that would give Rafael Nadal an aneurysm.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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People with Chagas disease can have acute illness, and may experience relatively mild symptoms that can last for weeks or months, including swelling at the infection site, fever, rash, and body aches, among others, according to the Mayo Clinic.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
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While intentionally bred to be independent hunters of badgers, dachshunds can be brave, yet rash and stubborn.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precipitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precipitous. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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