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
• circumspect
• calculating
• long-term
• unrushed
• extended
• tentative
• foresighted
• slow
• hesitant
• faltering
• leisurely
• forethoughtful
• hesitating
• drawn-out
• laggard
• 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

Trump wants credit for precipitous drops in the murder rate, while also blaming Democrats and asserting that crime is out of control. — Sasha Von Oldershausen Sasha Von Oldershausen Sasha Von Oldershausen Kevin Williams Kevin Williams Shane Goldmacher and Pati Mazzei, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Tetairoa McMillan’s reception count was similarly precipitous, from five receptions in each of the first two games to just two against Cleveland, when he was targeted only five times. — Charlotte Observer, 29 Sep. 2026

On Greek itineraries, this includes a tour of breathtaking Meteora, a complex of 13th-century monasteries located on the mainland atop a precipitous natural pillar of sandstone more than 1,000 feet high. — Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026

Amid a precipitous drop in domestic film and television production in recent years, Hollywood has coalesced around support for a federal tax credit. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026