jeopardize
verb
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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
Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
What People Think Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill:
The private sector must lead the way in biomedical research
Medicaid cuts jeopardize the right to age at home
You’re all caught up.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
But analysts warn that trimming them could jeopardize precarious recruiting efforts.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2025
In the upcoming episodes, Tommy will be a key player in the events that jeopardize the camp's safety.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jeopardize
Cite this Entry
“Jeopardize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jeopardize. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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