precipitous
adjective
pre·cip·i·tous
pri-ˈsi-pə-təs 
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
Examples of precipitous in a Sentence
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
The precipitous decline shaved $2.4 billion off Trump’s net worth between Wednesday and Friday, cutting deeply into the $3.6 billion in gains Trump made during the previous month.
—
David Goldman, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024
Almost all mainline Christian faiths have seen precipitous drops in the pews, but the smaller presence of Catholicism is particularly evident in Milwaukee, where Catholic churches historically have anchored neighborhoods and acted as virtual community centers.
—Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024
Both precipitous aging and steep sub-replacement fertility are inextricably connected to the ongoing revolution in family structure.
—Nicholas Eberstadt, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2024
An average of polls conducted in Michigan since Sept. 4 shows the Democratic share of the Black electorate dropping by a precipitous 21 points on margin since 2020.
—Cooper Burton, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2024
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David Goldman, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024
Almost all mainline Christian faiths have seen precipitous drops in the pews, but the smaller presence of Catholicism is particularly evident in Milwaukee, where Catholic churches historically have anchored neighborhoods and acted as virtual community centers.
—Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024
Both precipitous aging and steep sub-replacement fertility are inextricably connected to the ongoing revolution in family structure.
—Nicholas Eberstadt, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2024
An average of polls conducted in Michigan since Sept. 4 shows the Democratic share of the Black electorate dropping by a precipitous 21 points on margin since 2020.
—Cooper Burton, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for precipitous
Articles Related to precipitous
Dictionary Entries Near precipitous
Cite this Entry
“Precipitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precipitous. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
precipitous
adjective
pre·cip·i·tous
pri-ˈsip-ət-əs
1
: showing unwise and unnecessary haste : rash
a precipitous act
2
: steep like a precipice
a precipitous slope
precipitously
adverb
precipitousness
noun
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