imperil

[im-per-uh l]

See more synonyms for imperil on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), im·per·iled, im·per·il·ing or (especially British) im·per·illed, im·per·il·ling.

to put in peril or danger; endanger.

Origin of imperil

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

Related formsim·per·il·ment, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for imperil on Thesaurus.com

risk, jeopardize, hazard, chance.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for imperil

Contemporary Examples

You want less concentration in banking—at least the type that will screw the little guy and imperil the economy?
How Naive is Elizabeth Warren?
Nick Gillespie
December 18, 2014
The goal should be to enable that flow without allowing undue systemic risk and greed to imperil it.
JPMorgan’s $2 Billion Loss Fueled by Efforts to Avoid Risk
Zachary Karabell
May 11, 2012
Romney warned that a second Obama term would “remake” the Supreme Court and imperil the future of gun rights.
Newt Gingrich Calls for Universal Right to Bear Arms at NRA Forum
Michael Ames
April 13, 2012
A meltdown at the plant could imperil tens of thousands of citizens, especially children and pregnant women.
Why America Isn't Ready for a Disaster
Irwin Redlener
March 11, 2011
Tax cuts, Labour argues, will imperil economic recovery—not exactly the type of message you win voters over with.
Brits Get Ready to Rumble
Alex Massie
April 5, 2010

Historical Examples

But you must swear to me that under no conditions will you imperil his position there.
The Boy Scouts on Belgian Battlefields
Lieut. Howard Payson
I thought that I had better not imperil my newly gained reputation by guessing.
The Stark Munro Letters
J. Stark Munro
You say in effect that my love is sinful and criminal, and that it will imperil your soul.
The Woman Thou Gavest Me
Hall Caine
Do you think it wise to imperil its success by making it depend so largely on yourself?
The Destroyer
Burton Egbert Stevenson
There thou must cast away all thy possessions and imperil all thy riches.
Mystics and Saints of Islam
Claud Field

British Dictionary definitions for imperil

imperil

verb -rils, -rilling or -rilled or US -rils, -riling or -riled

(tr) to place in danger or jeopardy; endanger

Derived Formsimperilment, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for imperil

v.

1590s, from assimilated form of in- "into, in" (see in- (2)) + peril. Related: Imperiled; imperiling.

imperil

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}imperil

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for imperil

Contemporary Examples

You want less concentration in banking—at least the type that will screw the little guy and imperil the economy?

The goal should be to enable that flow without allowing undue systemic risk and greed to imperil it.

Romney warned that a second Obama term would “remake” the Supreme Court and imperil the future of gun rights.

A meltdown at the plant could imperil tens of thousands of citizens, especially children and pregnant women.

Tax cuts, Labour argues, will imperil economic recovery—not exactly the type of message you win voters over with.

Historical Examples

But you must swear to me that under no conditions will you imperil his position there.

I thought that I had better not imperil my newly gained reputation by guessing.

You say in effect that my love is sinful and criminal, and that it will imperil your soul.

Do you think it wise to imperil its success by making it depend so largely on yourself?

There thou must cast away all thy possessions and imperil all thy riches.

imperil

Word Origin and History for imperil

v.

Origin of imperil