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
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
The next, she was being rushed into emergency surgery, her daughter’s heart rate dropping precipitously on the fetal monitor.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Apple’s revenue soared precipitously in the mid-2010s partly due to strong sales in China.
—ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
In other words, that wouldn’t explain why enrollment has fallen precipitously in the last 12 months or so.
—Kff Health News, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026
Suddenly, around 32 miles southwest of Marfa, the pavement ends, the ground drops away precipitously, and the gentle plains give way to craggy rocks and steep, dramatic mountains.
—Eva Frederick, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2026
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
The next, she was being rushed into emergency surgery, her daughter’s heart rate dropping precipitously on the fetal monitor.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Apple’s revenue soared precipitously in the mid-2010s partly due to strong sales in China.
—ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
In other words, that wouldn’t explain why enrollment has fallen precipitously in the last 12 months or so.
—Kff Health News, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026
Suddenly, around 32 miles southwest of Marfa, the pavement ends, the ground drops away precipitously, and the gentle plains give way to craggy rocks and steep, dramatic mountains.
—Eva Frederick, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precipitously
Adverb
-
The Visitors’ Lions were hastily established by the Biennale after the resignation of the jury, who were, of course, responsible for the assignment of the Golden Lion awards.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
11 May 2026
-
Unlike the officials, no lengthy review was needed as they were hastily ejected by stewards.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Adverb
-
The Spaniard left hurriedly, carrying a frown that owed to a sense of injustice.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
The proposal came together hurriedly.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Tshisekedi also suggested the sanctions reflected a broader alignment between his administration and Washington, dismissing any notion that the US had acted impulsively.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
8 May 2026
-
But there is a critical difference between acting decisively and acting impulsively.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Precipitously.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precipitously. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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