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.

Kyiv's heavy reliance on U.S. aid, and the skepticism shown by some in the Trump camp regarding high levels of spending on this assistance, have raised concerns that Trump's return could jeopardize Ukraine's defensive efforts. —

Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025 Additionally, Richardson’s injuries and inaccuracy greatly jeopardize his ability to become an NFL-caliber QB, let alone the face of a franchise. —

James Boyd, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025 This week, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, a physician, wrote in The New York Times that vaccine misinformation spread by Kennedy played a role in Samoa’s outbreak and warned that appointing him at the Department of Health and Human Services would jeopardize public health. —

Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2025 San Jose Sharks: Fabian Zetterlund is a game-time decision against Utah, jeopardizing his consecutive games played streak of 147. —

Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for jeopardize