“Precipitate” and “precipitous” are two adjectives that share a common root but have distinct meanings. Understanding their difference is crucial when describing actions or situations, especially in terms of suddenness or steepness.
Precipitate
Definition:
“Precipitate” as an adjective means rash, hasty, or done without careful consideration. It often refers to actions taken too suddenly, without enough thought.
Examples:
Their precipitate entry into the dot-com market led to a disaster.
The CEO’s precipitate decision to cut jobs caused unrest in the company.
Investors were alarmed by the precipitate sell-off of shares.
Precipitous
Definition:
“Precipitous” means very steep, often used to describe something that is physically or metaphorically steep or sudden.
Examples:
Video conferencing is leading to a precipitous decline in travel.
The hikers struggled to climb the precipitous mountain trail.
The company experienced a precipitous drop in revenue after the product recall.
While “precipitate” refers to actions taken too quickly or rashly, “precipitous” describes something very steep or a sharp decline. These words are often used in different contexts, with “precipitate” focusing on sudden actions and “precipitous” emphasizing steepness or sudden drops. Understanding this distinction will help you use them correctly in your writing and speech.
