PRECIPITATE Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'precipitate' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of precipitate are abrupt , headlong , impetuous , and sudden . While all these words mean "showing undue haste or unexpectedness," precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action. // the army's precipitate withdrawal

Q: When is it sensible to use 'abrupt' instead of 'precipitate'?

Although the words abrupt and precipitate have much in common, abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony. // an abrupt refusal

Q: When is 'headlong' a more appropriate choice than 'precipitate'?

While the synonyms headlong and precipitate are close in meaning, headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought. // a headlong flight from arrest

Q: When would 'impetuous' be a good substitute for 'precipitate'?

The words impetuous and precipitate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness. // an impetuous lover proposing marriage

Q: When can 'sudden' be used instead of 'precipitate'?

The meanings of sudden and precipitate largely overlap; however, sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action. // flew into a sudden rage

precipitate 1 of 3

adjective

pri-ˈsi-pə-tət

Definition of precipitate next

as in hurried

acting or done with excessive or careless speed the army's precipitate withdrawal from the field of battle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

precipitate

2 of 3

noun

pri-ˈsi-pə-tət

as in result

a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause the exodus from the cities was an unexpected precipitate of the automobile, which effectively shrank distances

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sediment

matter that settles to the bottom of a body of liquid the chemist filtered out the precipitate from the solution

Synonyms & Similar Words

precipitate

3 of 3

verb

pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtāt

as in to rain

to fall as water in a continuous stream of drops from the clouds the air mass was dry, as much of the moisture had precipitated out on the other side of the mountains

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective precipitate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of precipitate are abrupt, headlong, impetuous, and sudden. While all these words mean "showing undue haste or unexpectedness," precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action.

the army's precipitate withdrawal

When is it sensible to use abrupt instead of precipitate?

Although the words abrupt and precipitate have much in common, abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony.

an abrupt refusal

When is headlong a more appropriate choice than precipitate?

While the synonyms headlong and precipitate are close in meaning, headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought.

a headlong flight from arrest

When would impetuous be a good substitute for precipitate?

The words impetuous and precipitate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness.

an impetuous lover proposing marriage

When can sudden be used instead of precipitate?

The meanings of sudden and precipitate largely overlap; however, sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action.

flew into a sudden rage

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of precipitate

Adjective

An additional factor that has been increasingly in the mix is that old and deteriorating dam infrastructure can fail amidst excessive rainfall events and precipitate catastrophic flooding. —

Sarah Raza, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2023 Those updates references – and the series of chases, Rube Goldberg mechanisms, and bits of derring-do they all precipitate – also allowed the filmmaking to push their formal boundaries. —

Ben Croll, Variety, 14 June 2023

Noun

Could that aforementioned depth precipitate more 4-3 looks this year? —

Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Aug. 2023 Specific metals are then extracted using a series of electrified filters, producing a nickel-cobalt product, mixed hydroxide precipitate. —

Sue Kiesewetter, The Enquirer, 27 July 2023

Verb

That effort ultimately precipitated the events of the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021. —

Paolo Confino, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024 His departure was precipitated by his decision to tear up a power- sharing deal with the SNP's junior coalition partner, the Scottish Greens, who promptly responded by backing a vote of no confidence in him. —

The Week Uk, theweek, 25 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for precipitate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for precipitate

Adjective

Overhead, a pair of firefighting helicopters circled in constant, hurried laps between the lake and the burning hillsides.

— Wally Skalij, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
He’s got quick crossover acceleration with a hurried stride that cranks its way up ice to give him good speed.

— Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025