imperil
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
- imperilment noun
Etymology
Origin of imperil
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."
Vocabulary lists containing imperil
This Week in Words: March 10 - 16, 2018
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This Week in Words: December 1 - 7 , 2018
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Justice Department filed an appeal against Leon's ruling on Thursday, arguing it "would imperil the president and national security and indefinitely leave a large hole beside the Executive Residence".
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
Microsoft on Tuesday warned a judge that the Pentagon blacklisting of Anthropic could hamper US warfighters and imperil the country's drive to lead in artificial intelligence.
From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026
Surreptitious dealings with a high-stakes Vegas gambler could imperil Jeff Shell’s role in Paramount Skydance as it looks to merge with Warner Bros.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026
In India, gas-intensive companies such as fertilizer producers might be forced to throttle back production, which could imperil crop yields in a country that still suffers from malnutrition.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026
He had told himself, as he walked to see his father, that any show of emotions, any hint of final leave-taking could imperil the escape.
From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
