jeopardize

verb

jeop·ar·dize ˈje-pər-ˌdīz

jeopardized; jeopardizing

Synonyms of jeopardize next

transitive verb

: to expose to danger or risk : imperil

a decision that could jeopardize her career

laws jeopardizing freedom of speech

Did you know?

Jeopardize Has a Controversial History

It may be hard to believe that jeopardize was once controversial, but in 1870 a grammarian called it "a foolish and intolerable word," a view shared by many 19th-century critics. The preferred word was jeopard, which first appeared in print in the 14th century. (The upstart jeopardize didn't arrive until the late 16th century.) In 1828, Noah Webster himself declared jeopardize to be "a modern word, used by respectable writers in America, but synonymous with jeopard, and therefore useless." Unfortunately for the champions of jeopard, jeopardize is now much more popular.

Examples of jeopardize in a Sentence

His health has been jeopardized by poor nutrition. don't do anything that will jeopardize your place on the advisory board

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Then Gail's ex Max shows up unannounced, her daughter reveals a secret that may jeopardize the wedding and churns up Gail and Max's own history. —

Lizz Schumer, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024 The resounding support for the stopgap funding bill reflected a desire in both parties to avoid a costly shutdown that could have jeopardized paychecks for hundreds of thousands of federal employees a few days before Christmas. —

Christina Wilkie, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2024 Once symbols of resilience, their invasive roots jeopardized the foundation of my home, making action unavoidable. —

Leonie H. Mattison, Mba, Edd, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024 As Russia has been unable to drive the Ukrainian military out of Kursk despite previous deadlines, this goal may be jeopardized due to the extensive loss of armored vehicles. —

Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for jeopardize