endanger

verb

en·​dan·​ger in-ˈdān-jər 

en-

endangered; endangering in-ˈdān-jə-riŋ 

-ˈdānj-riŋ, 

en-

transitive verb

: to bring into danger or peril

recklessly endangering innocent lives

intransitive verb

: to create a dangerous situation

driving to endanger

endangerment

in-ˈdān-jər-mənt 

en-

noun

Synonyms of endanger

• threaten
• risk
• jeopardize
• imperil

Examples of endanger in a Sentence

Parents feared that the dog could endanger their children.

The severe drought has endangered crops throughout the area.

Recent Examples on the Web

Two House Republicans are also endangered in Texas. —David Weigel, semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026

Cops took Brown into custody without incident and later charged him with assault, endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangerment. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026

In 2022, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature added the migrating monarch butterfly to its Red List of threatened species and classified the iconic species as endangered. —Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026

She is accused by her actions of endangering the child’s life, a probable cause statement says. —Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for endanger

• arranger
• exchanger
• changer
• danger
• manger
• ranger
• stranger

Kids Definition

endanger

verb

en·​dan·​ger in-ˈdān-jər 

endangered; endangering -ˈdānj-(ə-)riŋ 

: to bring into danger or peril

endangerment

-mənt 

noun

Legal Definition

endanger

transitive verb

en·​dan·​ger

: to bring into danger or peril

intransitive verb

: to create a dangerous situation

charged with driving to endanger