precipitous

adjective

pre·​cip·​i·​tous pri-ˈsi-pə-təs 

1

: precipitate sense 2

2

a

: very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging in rise or fall

a precipitous slope

b

: having precipitous sides

a precipitous gorge

c

: having a very steep ascent

a precipitous street

precipitously adverb

precipitousness noun

Synonyms

• cursory
• drive-by
• flying
• gadarene
• hasty
• headlong
• helter-skelter
• hurried
• overhasty
• pell-mell
• precipitate
• rash
• rushed

Choose the Right Synonym for precipitous

steep, abrupt, precipitous, sheer mean having an incline approaching the perpendicular.

steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult.

a steep hill

a steep dive

abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level.

a beach with an abrupt drop-off

precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical.

the river winds through a precipitous gorge

sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse.

sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers

Examples of precipitous in a Sentence

There has been a precipitous decline in home sales recently.

People were shocked by his precipitous fall from political power.

Recent Examples on the Web

Regulation around lead restrictions, such as pipes, paint and gasoline, has contributed to precipitous declines in lead exposure in children in the U.S. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2024

More:Jeep’s precipitous decline lies at feet of those in executive suites, mansions Trucks Ford Ranger: Ford’s midsize pickup adds features and a desert-racing Raptor performance model. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 13 Sep. 2024

Under the uninspired leadership of the Castros’ successor, Miguel Díaz-Canel, a sixty-four-year-old Communist Party official, the island has suffered a precipitous economic decline. —Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2024

According To The 2024 Scotch Whisky Masters Conversations regarding the Hall of Fame candidacies of active ball players can either be optimistic or tinged with melancholy given precipitous declines in performance or injuries. —Wayne G. McDonnell, Jr., Forbes, 8 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French précipiteux, from Middle French, from Latin precipitium precipice

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

precipitous

adjective

pre·​cip·​i·​tous pri-ˈsip-ət-əs 

1

: showing unwise and unnecessary haste : rash

a precipitous act

2

: steep like a precipice

a precipitous slope

precipitously adverb

precipitousness noun