precipitous

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "precipitous" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective that is used to describe a situation, action, or change that happens very quickly, unexpectedly, and often with disastrous effects. For example: The company's precipitous decline in sales has caused them to have to make drastic reductions in personnel.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

BBC1 was marginally down on the 4.1 million viewers who turned in five years ago, with ITV suffering a more precipitous drop from 1.3 million last time round.

The Guardian

020-3642 4246 sumak-travel.org The Waitukubuli Trail is a 115-mile trek across a landscape filled with deep jungle, precipitous ridges and huge waterfalls.

The Guardian - Travel

The up was unrelenting, and the trail precipitous, its edges dropping into a granite abyss.

The Guardian - Travel

By now weary of motorways, I was pleased to find online a ride over the Pyrenees to Barcelona, bearing a little blue autoroute icon with a strike-through – meaning that it would mostly be on precipitous B-roads.

The Guardian - Travel

We walked out of the town, up steep narrow alleys, shaded by trees and flowering shrubs, and blessedly free from motorised vehicles, to the ruined Villa Jovis which the Emperor Tiberius built as his retreat on the edge of a precipitous cliff from which those who offended him were hurled to their deaths.

The Guardian - Travel

Recently states seem less prone to precipitous swings from one end of the political spectrum to the other.

The Guardian

But the drop in the state's hydroelectric production has been precipitous.

The Guardian

Chivas continue to be mired in an embarrassing discrimination lawsuit, and the drop in quality on the field - the team will finish 2013 with fewer points than 2012 and has been shown the most cards - has brought a precipitous decline in attendance.

The Guardian - Sport

Neither do Carter and Harris mention the precipitous long-term decline of sea ice in the Arctic.

The Guardian

Demographers generally agree that China should be, if anything, encouraging more births to avoid a precipitous decline in the working-age population.

The Economist

He made for Lhasa by riding over a precipitous 15,000-feet 15,000-feety in the dark; only to find that, on the other side, the Chinese were waiting for him.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "precipitous" to describe changes that are not only sudden but also significant and potentially dangerous. It adds a sense of urgency and drama to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "precipitous" to describe gradual or expected changes. This adjective is best reserved for instances where the change is sudden, unexpected, and often undesirable.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "precipitous" primarily functions to describe a noun, indicating a sharp or abrupt change, decline, or ascent. Ludwig shows its use in contexts such as "precipitous drop" or "precipitous decline", emphasizing the suddenness and often the severity of the change.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Travel

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "precipitous" is a powerful descriptor for changes that are sudden, steep, and often carry negative implications. As verified by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in contexts ranging from news and media to business and travel. It is crucial to reserve this word for instances where change is genuinely abrupt and significant, avoiding its misuse for gradual processes. The examples indicate that "precipitous" is most effective when highlighting urgency or concern about a rapid shift. When looking for alternatives, consider "abrupt", "steep", or "sudden" based on the specific nuance you want to communicate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abrupt

Focuses on the sudden and unexpected nature of the change.

sudden

Highlights the quickness and lack of warning.

steep

Emphasizes the sharp angle or rate of change.

rapid

Suggests a fast pace of change or decline.

headlong

Implies a reckless or uncontrolled descent.

sharp

Emphasizes the intensity and distinctness of the change.

plunging

Suggests a forceful and quick downward movement.

sheer

Indicates a vertical or extremely steep drop.

drastic

Highlights the severity and extreme nature of the alteration.

tumbling

Implies an uncontrolled and rapid fall.

FAQs

How do you use "precipitous" in a sentence?

Use "precipitous" to describe a sharp or sudden decline or ascent. For example, "The company experienced a "precipitous decline" in profits after the new regulations were implemented."

What words are similar to "precipitous"?

Similar words include "abrupt", "steep", "sudden", "rapid", and "headlong". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a precipitous increase"?

Yes, "precipitous" can describe a sudden increase as well as a decline. The key is the speed and unexpectedness of the change. For example, a "precipitous rise" in stock prices.

What's the difference between "precipitous" and "gradual"?

"Precipitous" describes a very sudden and steep change, while "gradual" describes a slow and incremental change. These terms are antonyms and should be used to convey opposite types of changes.