as in hastily
with excessive or careless speed
the sight of swimmers exiting the water precipitously when some joker shouted "Shark!"
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Recent Examples of precipitously
The war has rocked the global economy as the cost of fuel and other goods has risen precipitously.
—
Joey Garrison, USA Today, 19 June 2026
When women go through menopause, estrogen and other hormones that support bone health can drop precipitously.
—Rob Williams, EverydayHealth.com, 15 June 2026
The market for kids’ vintage clothing has heated up precipitously over the last few years, perhaps hitting a boiling point in January when an Eeyore romper from the ’90s sold for over $3,000 on EBay.
—Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
The number of immigrants released on parole or bond has dropped precipitously in the following months, experts say.
—Rob Kuznia, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
After the Second World War, streetcar usage declined precipitously, as many white middle-class and working-class Angelenos bought automobiles and moved out of the city’s core.
—Oren Peleg, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
In reality, Pickle Girl had precipitously tumbled off her growth curve just months earlier.
—Rachel Tepper Paley, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 May 2026
Home winning percentage has declined precipitously in both the regular season and the playoffs—likely due to improvements to travel conditions, sleep habits and recovery science.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 6 May 2026
Without that combination, pay drops precipitously.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Joey Garrison, USA Today, 19 June 2026
When women go through menopause, estrogen and other hormones that support bone health can drop precipitously.
—Rob Williams, EverydayHealth.com, 15 June 2026
The market for kids’ vintage clothing has heated up precipitously over the last few years, perhaps hitting a boiling point in January when an Eeyore romper from the ’90s sold for over $3,000 on EBay.
—Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
The number of immigrants released on parole or bond has dropped precipitously in the following months, experts say.
—Rob Kuznia, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
After the Second World War, streetcar usage declined precipitously, as many white middle-class and working-class Angelenos bought automobiles and moved out of the city’s core.
—Oren Peleg, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
In reality, Pickle Girl had precipitously tumbled off her growth curve just months earlier.
—Rachel Tepper Paley, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 May 2026
Home winning percentage has declined precipitously in both the regular season and the playoffs—likely due to improvements to travel conditions, sleep habits and recovery science.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 6 May 2026
Without that combination, pay drops precipitously.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precipitously
Adverb
-
This is another entry that seems hastily done, insufficiently explained.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
-
It has already been hastily extended with short-term patches twice this year.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Adverb
-
If another family attempts to invade that space, they are hurriedly pushed away by loud squawking and aggressive flying.—
Jim Clash,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
The wranglers hurriedly unpacked him, and Paul, greatly agitated, dived into the duffel bags after his photographic gear.—
Dolores Brown,
Outdoor Life,
17 June 2026
Adverb
-
That brief pause makes the difference between responding wisely and reacting impulsively.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
When Saajan impulsively offers to join her, plans accelerate, leading to some of the most thrilling and heartbreaking moments the piece offers.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Precipitously.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precipitously. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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