imperil

American  

[im-per-uhl] / ɪmˈpɛr əl /

verb (used with object)

imperiled, imperiling, imperilled, imperilling

1. to put in peril or danger; endanger.

   Synonyms:

   chance, hazard, jeopardize, risk

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imperil British  

/ ɪmˈpɛrɪl /

verb

1. (tr) to place in danger or jeopardy; endanger

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Other Word Forms

• imperilment
  noun

Etymology

Origin of imperil

First recorded in 1590–1600; im- ¹ + peril

Explanation

One thing can imperil another when it threatens to be harmful. For example, an approaching storm with hurricane-force winds might imperil the geraniums you just planted in your front yard. A city's budget cuts might imperil a school's ability to hire new teachers and buy supplies. The lack of money, in other words, is a threat to schools. Likewise, a factory's refusal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions will imperil the air quality nearby — and ultimately, imperil the health of the whole planet. The word imperil comes from in and peril, meaning "danger."

Example Sentences

June 23, 2010, 10:46 am On Our Radar: Cutbacks Imperil Clean Energy Austerity measures in the United States and Europe imperil clean energy development.

From New York Times • Jun. 23, 2010

Ethnic Fissures Imperil Order in Kyrgyzstan OSH, Kyrgyzstan — , an obscure country with a coveted location in Central Asia, is in serious danger of fragmenting.

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 2010

Imperil, im-per′il, v.t. to put in peril: to endanger.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

Related Words

• compromise
• endanger
• jeopardize
• menace