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

Police asked for help finding Jordyne Williams, 20, who was reported missing Sunday afternoon and is considered endangered, a police spokesman said. — Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2026

Mariana’s case urgently raises the question of whether this country still has the moral clarity to differentiate between people who endanger it and people who strengthen it. — Don Bacon, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2026

In response to that case, a biotech CEO recently warned in these pages that letting courts and politicians second-guess the FDA’s scientific judgment endangers the whole drug pipeline. — Julie F. Kay, STAT, 25 Sep. 2026

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said Thursday that a 37-year-old man was arrested the previous evening on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life and endangering the safety of a vessel. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 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