precipitously

adverb

Definition of precipitouslynext
as in hastily
with excessive or careless speed the sight of swimmers exiting the water precipitously when some joker shouted "Shark!"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of precipitously The war has rocked the global economy as the cost of fuel and other goods has risen precipitously. — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 19 June 2026 When women go through menopause, estrogen and other hormones that support bone health can drop precipitously. — Rob Williams, EverydayHealth.com, 15 June 2026 The number of immigrants released on parole or bond has dropped precipitously in the following months, experts say. — Rob Kuznia, CNN Money, 15 May 2026 New death sentences have dropped even more precipitously, with prosecutors in capital cases seeking them less often and jurors more likely to choose life in prison. — Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 Following the goal, the match’s intensity and pace dropped precipitously, with neither team seemingly interested in attacking or scoring more goals. — Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 June 2026 After the Second World War, streetcar usage declined precipitously, as many white middle-class and working-class Angelenos bought automobiles and moved out of the city’s core. — Oren Peleg, New Yorker, 9 May 2026 After his withdrawal from the day-to-day coaching work during the 2024 offseason, however, Clark’s influence internally had dwindled precipitously. — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 28 June 2026 The market for kids’ vintage clothing has heated up precipitously over the last few years, perhaps hitting a boiling point in January when an Eeyore romper from the ’90s sold for over $3,000 on EBay. — Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precipitously
  1. hastily
  2. hurriedly
  3. impulsively
Adverb
  • Indigenous people from around the continent chanted, danced, prayed and conducted smoky medicine ceremonies daily outside a fence hastily erected around the property.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
  • Jelinek hastily asked for a ten-minute break, and the judge granted it.
    — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of hastily
Adverb
  • The city hurriedly put together a pitch for the Bears, calling the site Halas Harbor until the Bears rejected the Hail Mary play in favor of Hammond.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
  • As the party raged on LACMA’s campus, hundreds of parade participants hurriedly prepared for their debuts in the corners of nearby streets and parking lots.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
Definition of hurriedly
Adverb
  • That brief pause makes the difference between responding wisely and reacting impulsively.
    — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • When Saajan impulsively offers to join her, plans accelerate, leading to some of the most thrilling and heartbreaking moments the piece offers.
    — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Definition of impulsively

Browse Nearby Words

precipitous
precipitously
precipitousness
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Cite this Entry

“Precipitously.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precipitously. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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