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.

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 All eight positions were jeopardized by the hiring freeze. —

Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 23 Dec. 2024 The attacks have jeopardized billions of dollars in Chinese investments in infrastructure, energy and trade, which have been crucial for sustaining Pakistan’s economy during a prolonged economic crisis. —

Zia Ur-Rehman, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2024 By remaining vigilant and advocating for robust security protocols, accountants can continue to safeguard the integrity of financial reporting, better ensuring that deepfakes do not jeopardize our profession’s foundational pillars of trust and transparency. —

Pankaj Vasani, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for jeopardize