precipitous

[ pri-sip-i-tuhs ]
See synonyms for precipitous on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. of the nature of or characterized by precipices: a precipitous wall of rock.

  2. extremely or impassably steep: precipitous mountain trails.

Origin of precipitous

1
1640–50; <obsolete French précipiteux;see precipitate, -ous

Other words for precipitous

Opposites for precipitous

Other words from precipitous

  • pre·cip·i·tous·ly, adverb
  • pre·cip·i·tous·ness, noun
  • un·pre·cip·i·tous, adjective
  • un·pre·cip·i·tous·ly, adverb
  • un·pre·cip·i·tous·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with precipitous

Words Nearby precipitous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use precipitous in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for precipitous

precipitous

/ (prɪˈsɪpɪtəs) /


adjective
  1. resembling a precipice or characterized by precipices

  2. very steep

  1. hasty or precipitate

usage For precipitous

The use of precipitous to mean hasty is thought by some people to be incorrect

Derived forms of precipitous

  • precipitously, adverb
  • precipitousness, noun

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