precipice

noun

ˈpre-s(ə-)pəs How to pronounce precipice (audio)
Definition of precipicenext
as in cliff
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice scaled the steep precipice with the ease of an experienced climber

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of precipice Three decades of Republican rule in Florida have brought the state’s education system to the precipice of a new era — one in which privately run institutions play an unprecedented role in teaching the next generation. — Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026 Ideally, suicide prevention starts long before someone reaches a literal precipice. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 Sitting down for a chat on the last day of the Telluride Film Festival, as rain threatened to break through the cloudy sky, Jenkins seemed on the precipice of a new chapter in his career. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 28 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile the Fed is on the precipice of raising its benchmark short-term interest rate. — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for precipice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precipice
  1. cliff
  2. escarpment
Noun
  • Italy’s tourism site notes that professional divers leap from the cliffs during organized events.
    — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Travelers familiar with Scotland’s Isle of Skye may recognize this recipe for remote luxury, though rather than craggy cliffs and emerald-green glens, Noirmoutier is closer to a little slice of California.
    — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of cliff
Noun
  • The researchers say the ancient escarpment may have influenced river systems, sediment transport and the flooding of continental interiors long before the rapid diversification of complex life during the Cambrian explosion.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Built around a towering sandstone escarpment that rises through the centre of the property, surrounded by a deliciously cold pool, the architecture was conceived in careful negotiation with the landscape.
    — Lara Johnson-Wheeler, Vogue, 3 July 2026
Definition of escarpment

Browse Nearby Words

precious
precipice
precipices
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Precipice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precipice. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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