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precipitately

precipitately

1 8.3
Very quickly without careful thought
  • adverb
  • /prɪˈsɪpɪtɪtli/
  • Formal
translation icon : precipitadamente
  • This paper, therefore, rather than attempt to prescribe any grand design, falls precipitately from the lofty metaphysics of Faust to the more mundane world of international economic relations.
  • so precipitately

Examples

  • Spending cannot be contained by cutting services to whites precipitately because that would encourage white flight and endanger social cohesion.

    Academic text (1996)
  • I have never known why she did this so senselessly, so precipitately, so obviously near to my grandmother's death.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • They were meeting over the network, all of them people who had expressed desires not to abandon the base so precipitately.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Next followed Pompey Curry, who, on being let loose, precipitately fled, was fired upon, and badly wounded, but escaped with his life.

    Blog text (6)
  • Most of Harmon's thirty-three-man column "retreated precipitately."

    Academic text (2008)
  • Teel would not have risked jeopardizing her disguise by acting precipitately.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • She left the meeting precipitately, not considering the implications of her decision.

  • The storm arrived so suddenly that we had to evacuate precipitately.

  • They concluded the negotiation precipitately, missing important details.

Synonyms

quickly
vsprecipitately
1.0

At a fast speed or without delay

suggests hurriedness that is excessive and often lacking careful thought
suddenly
vsprecipitately
1.0

Quickly and without warning

focuses more on suddenness plus excessive haste, not only surprise
rapidly
vsprecipitately
446 1.4

In a very short time

adds the idea of excessive, often careless haste rather than mere speed
abruptly
vsprecipitately
145 3.3

In a sudden way that gives no warning

adds the sense of excessive, thoughtless speed beyond mere abruptness
swiftly
vsprecipitately
84 1.0

Quickly and smoothly

stresses hasty, often thoughtless action rather than smooth speed
hastily
vsprecipitately
49 3.5

In a quick, careless way

is faster and more extreme, implying too much haste and little thought
hurriedly
vsprecipitately
23 3.2

Acting quickly with little care

is a stronger, excessive hastiness that commonly lacks careful thought
precipitously
vsprecipitately
13 7.6

Very quickly and suddenly, often causing a large change

is about extreme haste and rapid action rather than steep or sudden shape
impulsively
vsprecipitately
12 5.1

Act quickly because you suddenly want to, without thinking first

emphasizes rapid, excessive haste rather than inner sudden urges
in haste
vsprecipitately
9 2.8

Quickly and without careful thought

is more excessive rush, emphasizing great speed and lack of thought
headlong
vsprecipitately
9 6.4

In a very quick and careless way without thinking

stresses excessive speed more than mere recklessness or danger
rashly
vsprecipitately
7 5.6

Act quickly without thinking about the bad results

focuses more on extreme speed and hurried action than only bad judgment
post-haste
vsprecipitately
  • Formal
3 7.4

As quickly as possible

implies urgency but not necessarily the careless, thoughtless quality
frenetically
vsprecipitately
1 7.0

Very quickly and in a worried or excited way

is less about frantic energy and more about excessive hasty speed
impetuously
vsprecipitately
1 7.7

Suddenly and without thinking carefully

leans more toward great haste and rapid action than sudden force
swifty
vsprecipitately
  • Informal
8.5

Happening very quickly

is more intense haste with a careless, thoughtless quality
with a quickness
vsprecipitately
  • Informal
7.2

In a very short time

carries a stronger sense of reckless haste and lack of thought

Antonyms

1.0

At a low speed without hurrying

How Hasty

recklessly
30 4.6
rashly
7 5.6
precipitately
  • Formal
1 8.3
hurriedly
23 3.2
hastily
49 3.5

Surface Forms

precipitately positive

Morphology

precipitately = precipitate (transparent) = precipitate + ly

Formed by the adjective 'precipitate' plus the productive adverbial suffix '-ly', so the meaning is predictable from the base.

Etymology

Precipitately comes from Latin parts prae- ('before' or 'forward') and caput ('head'), giving the picture of going 'headfirst' or falling quickly into something. So, to act precipitately is to do something very quickly and without careful thought.