precipitous
Americanadjective
-
of the nature of or characterized by precipices.
a precipitous wall of rock.
-
extremely or impassably steep.
precipitous mountain trails.
- Synonyms:
- perpendicular, sheer, abrupt
adjective
-
resembling a precipice or characterized by precipices
-
very steep
-
hasty or precipitate
Usage
The use of precipitous to mean hasty is thought by some people to be incorrect
Other Word Forms
- precipitously adverb
- precipitousness noun
- unprecipitous adjective
- unprecipitously adverb
- unprecipitousness noun
Etymology
Origin of precipitous
1640–50; < obsolete French précipiteux; precipitate, -ous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Tariff uncertainties, high short-term interest rates and workers’ reluctance to leave their jobs are contributing to a precipitous drop in the pace of hiring.
So, given the timing of this precipitous announcement, it is hard to believe that something isn’t also going on with attitudes toward Lincoln and Glass’ displeasure with the Kennedy Center administration.
From Los Angeles Times
The downturn mirrors precipitous drops in many other large cities nationwide last year — and has sparked a range of theories about what’s going on.
From Los Angeles Times
She writes about how America’s biggest food companies—including Kraft Heinz, Kellogg and Hershey—are navigating the precipitous rise of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, weight-loss drugs and changing consumer eating behaviors.
This year’s slate represents a precipitous 68% drop from that peak.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
