v. 1 accelerate, hasten, speed (up), advance, hurry, quicken, expedite, bring on or about, trigger, provoke, instigate, incite, facilitate, further, press, push forward The rise in interest rates precipitated many bankruptcies 2 hurl, fling, cast, launch, project The force of the impact precipitated him through the windscreen
adj. 3 headlong, violent, rapid, swift, quick, speedy, meteoric, fast A powerful counter-attack brought about the enemy's precipitate rout 4 sudden, abrupt, unannounced, unexpected, unanticipated Today's fall in share prices was as precipitate as yesterday's rise 5 rash, impetuous, hasty, volatile, hotheaded, careless, reckless, incautious, injudicious, foolhardy, impulsive, unrestrained The selection of a career should not be a precipitate decision