✅ Steep describes something that has an almost vertical slope or incline (a steep hill).

✅ Precipitous describes something that is dangerously steep (a precipitous series of steps).

✅ Steep and precipitous have very similar meanings with precipitous being a stronger, more intense word.

✅ Steep is used for both climbs and descents, whereas precipitous more often refers to falls or declines (The roller coaster featured a precipitous drop).

✅ Furtive describes something done secretly or with stealth or something that is shifty or sly (a furtive glance).

✅ Conspiratorial describes something that suggests the presence of a shared secretive and often harmful plot (a series of conspiratorial texts).

✅ Furtive and conspiratorial both describe things that give a sense of secrecy.

✅ Conspiratorial describes an action between people, whereas furtive often describes the action of one person (a furtive attempt to replace a broken mug; They exchanged conspiratorial remarks).

✅ Pivot means to turn as if on a pin or fixed point (She pivoted on her heel), and whirl means to spin around rapidly (The helicopter blades whirled).

✅ Pivot and whirl both mean to turn, but pivot refers to a partial turn, sharing a fixed point with the original position, whereas whirl can refer to partial or complete turns (We pivoted in the middle of the court and ran to the other side; The dancer whirled across the floor).

✅ Pivot can also mean to modify a policy (When the campaign wasn't going well, they pivoted and came up with another strategy), while whirl can mean to be carried along rapidly or feel like you are spinning (He whirled down the highway; After all those meetings, my head is whirling).