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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Even as California and the Bay Area drop most coronavirus restrictions amid a precipitous decline in cases, COVID-19 is on the rise again in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. 
Kellie Hwang, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Mar. 2022 In the past week, Bitcoin and Ethereum sunk and then popped, both currently trading roughly flat as of Tuesday evening, after having pared some losses from a precipitous decline that began in mid-November (both are still down over 30%). Anne Sraders, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2022 Any slowdown could trigger a precipitous decline in its share price. oregonlive, 9 Jan. 2022 Peak in four weeks and precipitous decline in another two. Julia Musto, Fox News, 1 Jan. 2022 As of 2019, the state was providing direct assistance to about 3,000 families out of nearly 30,000 living in poverty, a precipitous decline from the mid-’90s, when Utah’s program served roughly 60% of these parents and children. Kim Raff, ProPublica, 2 Dec. 2021 As of 2019, the state was providing direct assistance to about 3,000 families out of nearly 30,000 living in poverty, a precipitous decline from the mid-1990s, when Utah’s program served roughly 60% of these parents and children. The Salt Lake Tribune, 2 Dec. 2021 As the bellwether for crypto assets, the precipitous fall is drawing a lot of attention on the future of crypto assets. Jj Kinahan, Forbes, 21 June 2022 The precipitous fall of Terra has re-energized crypto skeptics. Niall Ferguson And Manny Rincon-cruz, WSJ, 12 June 2022 See More
Kellie Hwang, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Mar. 2022 In the past week, Bitcoin and Ethereum sunk and then popped, both currently trading roughly flat as of Tuesday evening, after having pared some losses from a precipitous decline that began in mid-November (both are still down over 30%). Anne Sraders, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2022 Any slowdown could trigger a precipitous decline in its share price. oregonlive, 9 Jan. 2022 Peak in four weeks and precipitous decline in another two. Julia Musto, Fox News, 1 Jan. 2022 As of 2019, the state was providing direct assistance to about 3,000 families out of nearly 30,000 living in poverty, a precipitous decline from the mid-’90s, when Utah’s program served roughly 60% of these parents and children. Kim Raff, ProPublica, 2 Dec. 2021 As of 2019, the state was providing direct assistance to about 3,000 families out of nearly 30,000 living in poverty, a precipitous decline from the mid-1990s, when Utah’s program served roughly 60% of these parents and children. The Salt Lake Tribune, 2 Dec. 2021 As the bellwether for crypto assets, the precipitous fall is drawing a lot of attention on the future of crypto assets. Jj Kinahan, Forbes, 21 June 2022 The precipitous fall of Terra has re-energized crypto skeptics. Niall Ferguson And Manny Rincon-cruz, WSJ, 12 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
French précipiteux, from Middle French, from Latin precipitium precipice
First Known Use
1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1
precipitous
adjective
1
as in hurried
acting or done with excessive or careless speed soon regretted our precipitous actions in international affairs Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hurried
- sudden
- precipitate
- headlong
- rapid
- hasty
- impulsive
- rushed
- rash
- abrupt
- reckless
- overhasty
- swift
- flying
- cursory
- spontaneous
- breathtaking
- makeshift
- breakneck
- quick
- pell-mell
- impetuous
- helter-skelter
- gadarene
- rush
- drive-by
- impromptu
- unadvised
- madcap
- impatient
- heady
- speedy
- headstrong
- hotheaded
- horseback
- slapdash
- offhanded
- snap
- offhand
- spur-of-the-moment
- off-the-cuff
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- deliberate
- unhurried
- prolonged
- calculated
- measured
- circumspect
- unrushed
- slow
- forethoughtful
- calculating
- faltering
- tentative
- foresighted
- extended
- hesitant
- leisurely
- hesitating
- drawn-out
- laggard
- long-term
- pokey
- poky
- dallying
- dawdling
- shilly-shallying
2
as in steep
having an incline approaching the perpendicular a precipitous ski slope that fully merits its triple diamond designation Synonyms & Similar Words
- steep
- abrupt
- mountainous
- vertical
- sloped
- sheer
- perpendicular
- bold
- craggy
- hilly
- tilted
- plumb
- scarped
- angled
- tipped
- straight
- slanted
- inclined
- listed
- hillocky
- heeled
- canted
- cocked
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- easy
- gradual
- moderate
- gentle
- soft
- smooth
- flat
- horizontal
- level
- even
- flush
- unruffled
- plane
- unwrinkled
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of precipitous are abrupt, sheer, and steep. While all these words mean "having an incline approaching the perpendicular," precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical.
the river winds through a precipitous gorge
The meanings of abrupt and precipitous largely overlap; however, abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level.
a beach with an abrupt drop-off
In some situations, the words sheer and precipitous are roughly equivalent. However, sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse.
sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers
The synonyms steep and precipitous are sometimes interchangeable, but steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult.
a steep hill
a steep dive