imperil

verb

im·​per·​il im-ˈper-əl How to pronounce imperil (audio)
-ˈpe-rəl
imperiled or imperilled; imperiling or imperilling

transitive verb

: to bring into peril : endanger
imperilment
im-ˈper-əl-mənt How to pronounce imperil (audio)
-ˈpe-rəl-
noun

Examples of imperil in a Sentence

The toxic fumes imperiled the lives of the trapped miners. The financial health of the company was imperiled by a string of bad investments. a list of imperiled species
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.
That, while involving a lot less affordable housing, won’t imperil the garden and is a better outcome than an empty lot or an entirely market-rate development. Kim Velsey, Curbed, 12 Nov. 2024 In the same way folk artists were upended by the first Industrial Revolution, so is their current generation imperiled by generative intelligence. Ruby Justice Thelot, ARTnews.com, 1 Nov. 2024 If the Supreme Court allows the state to keep its ban in place, that could imperil everyone’s access to health care. Orion Rummler, Them, 31 Oct. 2024 Their opposition is threatening to not only turn the U.S. into a technological backwater, but also to imperil our country’s status as the world’s only superpower. Laura Shin, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for imperil 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English inperiled, from in- in- entry 2 + peril peril entry 1 + -ed -ed entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of imperil was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near imperil

Cite this Entry

“Imperil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imperil. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

imperil

verb
im·​per·​il im-ˈper-əl How to pronounce imperil (audio)
imperiled or imperilled; imperiling or imperilling
: to place in great danger : endanger
imperilment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on imperil

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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