precipitate 1 of 3

precipitate

2 of 3

noun

precipitate

3 of 3

verb

as in to rain
to fall as water in a continuous stream of drops from the clouds the air mass was dry, as much of the moisture had precipitated out on the other side of the mountains

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective precipitate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of precipitate are abrupt, headlong, impetuous, and sudden. While all these words mean "showing undue haste or unexpectedness," precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action.

the army's precipitate withdrawal

When is it sensible to use abrupt instead of precipitate?

Although the words abrupt and precipitate have much in common, abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony.

an abrupt refusal

When is headlong a more appropriate choice than precipitate?

While the synonyms headlong and precipitate are close in meaning, headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought.

a headlong flight from arrest

When would impetuous be a good substitute for precipitate?

The words impetuous and precipitate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness.

an impetuous lover proposing marriage

When can sudden be used instead of precipitate?

The meanings of sudden and precipitate largely overlap; however, sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action.

flew into a sudden rage

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of precipitate
Adjective
An additional factor that has been increasingly in the mix is that old and deteriorating dam infrastructure can fail amidst excessive rainfall events and precipitate catastrophic flooding. Sarah Raza, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2023 Those updates references – and the series of chases, Rube Goldberg mechanisms, and bits of derring-do they all precipitate – also allowed the filmmaking to push their formal boundaries. Ben Croll, Variety, 14 June 2023
Noun
As the water increases in temperature, CaCO3 undergoes a chemical reaction and precipitates out of the water, forming incrustants, or little crystals. Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2024 Gadgil and his students have been exploring several methods to perform the actual arsenic removal, generally involving binding up the poison into a precipitate that can be filtered. Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Feb. 2015
Verb
Months later, Majors was arrested for assaulting his then-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, precipitating a swift public downfall. Nate Jones, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025 The failed offseason pursuit of free-agent Jorge Polanco precipitated a time-share between Brendan Rodgers and Mauricio Dubón that has produced pedestrian results, prompting wonder if an approaching deadline could lead to a shakeup. Chandler Rome, New York Times, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for precipitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precipitate
Adjective
  • This comes as the Trump administration has faced growing criticisms for its hurried proceedings to remove as many noncitizens from the country as quickly as possible.
    Alana Wise, NPR, 26 Apr. 2025
  • In Alentejo, food is meant to be shared, and time at the table is never hurried, and this is a central element of the experience at São Lourenço do Barrocal.
    Monica Mendal, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • As the documents explained, the authors relied on diagnostic codes to separate miscarriages, which are often also treated with mifepristone, from abortions—a practice that may yield imprecise results.
    Keren Landman, The Atlantic, 24 May 2025
  • Omar Barghouti, the co-founder of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, a global campaign aimed at pressuring Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian land, told CNN that unless Israel’s allies totally stop support for Israel, their actions will yield few results.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • Constructed in collaboration with Medina for the show, the cabinet becomes a metaphor for body and mind—a container for memory, for emotional sediment, for the trace elements of being.
    Nargess Banks, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • Swish until the loose sediment washes away, until heavy black sand is all that’s left.
    John Archibald, Southern Living, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • But the party was rained on when, also in April, a $50,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services was terminated due to an executive order from President Donald Trump.
    Zuri Primos, Kansas City Star, 31 May 2025
  • On both Flight 7 and Flight 8 (which launched in March), Ship was lost less than 10 minutes after liftoff, raining debris down over the Atlantic.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Show how data from customers/employees contributes to product innovations; present plans for sharing resultant value. 2.
    James Felton Keith, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Finally, the resultant structure was coated in potassium hydroxide, which washes away less stable structures and leaves behind thousands of microscopic pores.
    Michael Franco, New Atlas, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • In December Bomba testified via video in a deposition ordered by the federal judge presiding over the lawsuit.
    Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 13 May 2025
  • On Friday, the rapper’s legal team is set to sit Moretti through another deposition, or a sworn interview with a witness conducted before a trial.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • For a man who had crossed an ocean from Calabria, Italy, to build a better life, who had poured himself into his family with tireless devotion, this was a full-circle moment.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 25 May 2025
  • Bezos last year poured funds into Figure, a humanoid robot company that says its initial rollout will focus on manufacturers and warehouses, among other business applications.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • Ellie is rash and impulsive; Dina is lovestruck; Jesse is loyal and selfless.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2025
  • For instance, entrepreneurs under chronic stress might make rash business investments without considering long-term profitability.
    Shane Enete, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Precipitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precipitate. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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