jeopardize

verb

jeop·​ar·​dize ˈje-pər-ˌdīz How to pronounce jeopardize (audio)
jeopardized; jeopardizing

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 Reddit executives believed the download bloat jeopardized user growth in emerging markets where there were high data fees, those familiar with the discussions say. Paresh Dave, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024 But even Hacienda’s fans acknowledged a reluctance to speak ill of the group for fear of jeopardizing a cornerstone of their lifestyle. Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 The dispute jeopardizes more than a year-and-a-half of efforts to establish a Multinational Security Support mission, referred to as an MSS, with international partners. Michael Wilner, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024 In consulting with medical professionals it's become increasingly clear that continuing any festival or tour dates would jeopardize my long-term health and safety. Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 The opening has jeopardized the party’s chances of keeping the district in its column, which is crucial if Democrats hope to win control of the House in November. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 China ought to care that the Houthis have attacked shipping in the Red Sea since November, which jeopardizes trade with Europe. Gregg Carlstrom, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2024 But the stakes are higher when trying to conceive, says Dr. Rizk, and using the wrong lubricant can jeopardize the success of conception. Nicole Harris, Parents, 2 Mar. 2024 The railroads have defended their approach as a sound strategy to make the most of their resources without jeopardizing safety. Josh Funk, Quartz, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jeopardize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see jeopardy

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jeopardize was in 1582

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Dictionary Entries Near jeopardize

Cite this Entry

“Jeopardize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jeopardize. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

jeopardize

verb
jeop·​ar·​dize ˈjep-ər-ˌdīz How to pronounce jeopardize (audio)
jeopardized; jeopardizing
: to expose to danger

More from Merriam-Webster on jeopardize

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