precipitousness

pre·cip·i·tous  (pr-sp-ts)

adj.

1. Resembling a precipice; extremely steep. See Synonyms at steep¹.

2. Having several precipices: a precipitous bluff.

3. Usage Problem Extremely rapid, hasty, or abrupt; precipitate: "The change has included a precipitous collapse of Communist authority" New York Times. See Usage Note at precipitate.

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[Probably from obsolete precipitious, from Latin praecipitium, precipice; see precipice.]

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pre·cipi·tous·ly adv.

pre·cipi·tous·ness n.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	precipitousness - the property possessed by a slope that is very steep steepness, abruptness gradient, slope - the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the horizontal; "a five-degree gradient"
	2.	precipitousness - the quality of happening with headlong haste or without warning precipitance, precipitancy, precipitateness, suddenness, abruptness haste, hastiness, hurriedness, hurry, precipitation - overly eager speed (and possible carelessness); "he soon regretted his haste"