precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action.
the army's precipitate withdrawal
headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought.
a headlong flight from arrest
abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony.
an abrupt refusal
impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness.
an impetuous lover proposing marriage
sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action.
flew into a sudden rage
Example Sentences
Adjective a sudden change in temperature Sudden fame can be difficult to deal with. She had a sudden urge to be outside. His death was very sudden. a sudden turn in the road I was surprised by her sudden decision to quit. The director's sudden departure leaves the organization's future uncertain. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Collins, along with Plymouth Gin director Nick Blacknell, had traveled from London to Bordeaux for a spirits exposition and the gentlemen were struck one evening, as cocktail people often are, with a sudden and urgent thirst for a Negroni. Jason O'bryan, Robb Report, 10 Sep. 2022 His sudden and tragic death was ruled an accidental overdose due to mixed drug toxicity, PEOPLE confirmed at the time. Diane J. Cho, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2022 Regardless of gender, however, in families where the primary breadwinner dies, death can be linked to sudden and lasting family economic hardship, whereas the loss of a primary socioemotional caregiver can decrease social connectedness. Juliette Unwin, Scientific American, 7 Sep. 2022 Runniness that is sudden and short-lived can be due to irritants in the environment, such as pollutants in the air, certain fragrances, or secondhand smoke, Dr. Sindwani says. Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, 6 Sep. 2022 The representative confirmed reports that Dean died from unexpected and sudden illness on Monday but did not provide further details. Sandra Gonzalez, CNN, 30 Aug. 2022 The ending was sudden, as in certain European movies—that was the line. Emma Cline, The New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2022 But a sudden and unexpected warming of the global stratosphere was detected in the first few months of 2020 — reaching up to 3 degrees Celsius around Australia and around 0.7 degrees Celsius globally. Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022 The company faced headwinds with supply chain issues weighing heavily on its performance in 2021, particularly driven by longer transit times from the West Coast port delays and the sudden and prolonged closure of factories in Vietnam. Trefis Team, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English sodain, from Anglo-French sudain, from Latin subitaneus, from subitus sudden, from past participle of subire to come up, from sub- up + ire to go — more at sub-, issue entry 1