precipitous
precipitous Lexical Profile
precipitous Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Done very suddenly and without careful consideration; hasty, abrupt, or dramatic (especially of a decline or change).
"The company experienced a precipitous drop in stock value following the unexpected announcement."
Dangerously high or steep; resembling a precipice.
"The hikers carefully navigated the narrow trail along the precipitous cliff face."
Word Nuance & Usage
Traditionally, 'precipitous' means dangerously steep (like a physical precipice), whereas 'precipitate' means sudden, hasty, or rash; however, in modern usage, 'precipitous' is widely accepted in both senses, especially when describing a sudden, steep decline.
• Rhymes for precipitous
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-17th century from Middle French précipiteux, ultimately derived from Latin praeceps ('headlong, steep'), a compound of prae- ('before, forth') and caput ('head').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.