1
as in hurried
acting or done with excessive or careless speed
soon regretted our precipitous actions in international affairs
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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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Recent Examples of precipitous
The precipitous fall dragged down peers including Humana and other major Medicare Advantage players, which also tumbled in response to a disappointing proposal for 2027 government payment rates.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Paramount is demanding clarity on how those assets were valued, particularly at a time when traditional cable networks, while facing precipitous declines in enterprise valuation, still generate significant cash flow.
—Corey Martin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The Ducks will continue to be undermanned with top center Leo Carlsson on the shelf (thigh surgery) following a period where his injury factored into his precipitous drop in production.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
It was meant to streamline the state’s certification process but instead led to a precipitous decline in certifications.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precipitous
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Paramount is demanding clarity on how those assets were valued, particularly at a time when traditional cable networks, while facing precipitous declines in enterprise valuation, still generate significant cash flow.
—Corey Martin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The Ducks will continue to be undermanned with top center Leo Carlsson on the shelf (thigh surgery) following a period where his injury factored into his precipitous drop in production.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
It was meant to streamline the state’s certification process but instead led to a precipitous decline in certifications.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precipitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precipitous
Adjective
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No desks stacked with laptops, no hurried haggling over prices in tight booths, no sense that collectors were racing against the clock.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
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While the timing seems suspect and a bit hurried, the Italian veteran actor and James make their characters’ connection feel inevitable.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For the first time since the Federal Reserve began its aggressive rate hikes years ago, the share of homeowners paying steep mortgage rates above 6% now exceeds the elite class of borrowers holding on to rock-bottom rates below 3%.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
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Set the scene Somewhere between Monaco and Cannes, up the steep streets of Nice’s intricate Old Town, a large garden with poppies is accessed through a cool courtyard, shaded by orange trees.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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May 21 – June 20 Steady, thoughtful sentences are your friend — skip the rushed word vomit!—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Jan. 2026
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Gemini May 21 – June 20 Steady, thoughtful sentences are your friend — skip the rushed word vomit!—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Instead of analyzing every detail in a scene, the human brain quickly detects sudden motion or change and reacts first.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
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Demand for cross-border relocation, residency planning and citizenship consultancy services is being driven by geopolitical tensions and sudden policy shifts, advisers who work with ultra-high-net-worth clients told CNBC.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Intuition without reflection can become impulsive.—
Malana VanTyler,
Sacbee.com,
4 Feb. 2026
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Midmonth, your dreams will demand discipline, but by late February, impatience will spark impulsive moves that could ripple through your finances and alliances.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The study, conceived by Karen Froud and published last year, was the first of its kind and should have jolted policymakers and publishers alike into questioning the headlong rush away from print, even as reading scores continue to plummet nationwide.—
John R. MacArthur,
Air Mail,
8 Nov. 2025
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At Houlihan Lokey, Swain persists in the headlong roundelay of networking that’s his calling card.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
1 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Juventus were heavily criticised last year for financing a rebuild with hasty sales of Next Gen graduates like Dean Huijsen and Matias Soule.—
Colin Millar,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
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Clashes between protesters and federal agents have at times led to hasty arrests and charges, leading some cases to crumble under court scrutiny or be voluntarily dismissed by government prosecutors after more evidence emerges.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Embarrassment could have been a factor in the rash decision, but Trump is not a man who appears to be afflicted by that particular emotion, which takes its cue from a certain amount of self-awareness and humility.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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Symptoms of measles infection include fever, rash, cough, congestion or runny nose and red, watery eyes.—
Alexandra Simon,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Precipitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precipitous. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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