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

Examples of precipitate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This is all to the good, and better than a precipitate total withdrawal. —

The Editors, National Review, 22 Aug. 2017

Noun

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 Every summer, calcium carbonate precipitates from the lake’s warming water and falls to the lakebed, creating a visible barrier between each year of sediment. —

Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 July 2023

Verb

Although flooding is dependent on existing environmental conditions in a particular region, heavy rainfall can contribute to it, or precipitate it. —

Li Zhou, Vox, 10 Sep. 2024 And the dust-up in the end zone, precipitated by a Murray-Horn exchange? —

Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for precipitate

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'precipitate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.