1
as in hurried
acting or done with excessive or careless speed
soon regretted our precipitous actions in international affairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in steep
having an incline approaching the perpendicular
a precipitous ski slope that fully merits its triple diamond designation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of precipitous
Low-cost interventions that Chicago and other cities have added to select streets in the last two decades to make school routes safer for students to walk and bike to school have brought communities lasting benefits — and spurred a precipitous decline in injuries, experts say.
—
Sarah MacAraeg, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
The streets here are steep, as in San Francisco-steep—so precipitous that brave locals (or crazy, some might say) hurtle down them in homemade bobsleds every January.
—Cassidy Randall, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
What happened during the time in between was a precipitous fall for Rodgers.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2025
The seas, too, saw changes in reef composition, precipitous drops in plankton and the disappearance of whale-sized ichthyosaurs while their smaller relatives lived on during the same time.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precipitous
Sarah MacAraeg, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
The streets here are steep, as in San Francisco-steep—so precipitous that brave locals (or crazy, some might say) hurtle down them in homemade bobsleds every January.
—Cassidy Randall, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
What happened during the time in between was a precipitous fall for Rodgers.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2025
The seas, too, saw changes in reef composition, precipitous drops in plankton and the disappearance of whale-sized ichthyosaurs while their smaller relatives lived on during the same time.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precipitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precipitous
Adjective
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The German foreign minister flew to the United States on February 2 and returned to Europe the same night in a hurried effort to convince Baker of the need for a nonexpansion pledge to secure German unification.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
9 Apr. 2025
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Ryan Kalkbrenner blocked Troy D’Amico’s attempt at a winning 3-pointer in the final seconds, Isaiah Rivera missed a hurried 3 just before the buzzer and the Bluejays had forced overtime with an improbable comeback.—
Mike Fitzpatrick,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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And in January 2024, a steep entertainment tax on services by karaoke bars, spas, and nightclubs had been proposed, though that was scrapped the next month after backlash from local businesses.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
28 Mar. 2025
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Hop aboard one of the town’s white Volkswagen Beetle taxis to navigate the steep streets, or take the cable car to Hotel Montetaxco—a fine place for views of Taxco rooftops and to rest your head for the night.—
Meagan Drillinger,
AFAR Media,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Several conditions may cause sudden vision loss, such as an eye injury.—
Heidi Cope,
Health,
19 Apr. 2025
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All of a sudden, something that was a huge source of joy in my grandparents’ life became a challenge.—
Katie Akin,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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What began as an impulsive decision turned into an unforgettable journey, one that gave her the opportunity to experience the U.S. in a way few travelers do.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
13 Apr. 2025
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This often leads to better returns than active trading, which generally incurs higher costs and taxes and stems from impulsive, emotional decision-making, experts said.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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While no supporter — surely — would swap any of that frenetic, headlong decade for Tottenham’s inert version of stability, glory becomes addictive.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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This endless, headlong energy can produce a caffeinated buzz that rises to the brain on little prickling bubbles of enjoyment.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Weiss and his allies were outvoted 4-3 by those wanting a hasty, truncated search.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2025
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Some of those pages have been restored, with a Pentagon official telling NPR that the military's review of images, stories and social media posts has been too hasty in some respects.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Children are typically brought to the hospital after having the body rash for several days.—
Emily Baumgaertner Nunn,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
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Later in the episode, it’s slowly revealed that the groom and the bride also have the ringworm rash.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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An arrest warrant was obtained for Lacy for negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run and reckless operation of a vehicle.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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Reinoso-Gallegos was arrested without incident and transported to Troop H where he was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle at too slow speed and second-degree reckless endangerment.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precipitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precipitous. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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