im·per·il
im-ˈper-əl 
-ˈpe-rəl
imperiled or imperilled; imperiling or imperilling
: to bring into peril : endanger
a reckless act that imperiled us all
a list of imperiled species
plural -s
: the act of imperiling or the state of being imperiled
cut down on the convoy escort to the imperilment of shipping everywhere
Examples of imperil in a Sentence
Verb
The toxic fumes imperiled the lives of the trapped miners.
The financial health of the company was imperiled by a string of bad investments.
a list of imperiled species
Recent Examples on the Web
Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
Policies of the current federal administration and in certain states have imperiled our global leadership and prospects for the next generations of aspiring scholars of science with the potential for significant damage to our nation’s public health and biomedical and industrial leadership.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 16 June 2026
Her husband, who works in a factory painting industrial trucks, would be penalized for such a move, imperiling future raises.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 16 June 2026
Renewable energy groups suing the Pentagon claim a freeze in national security reviews for wind farms on private land has halted new projects, imperiling $47 billion in investments and 120,000 jobs across 21 states.
—Jennifer McDermott, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for imperil
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Verb
The latest truce agreement was reached after the two sides traded deadly fire on Friday, imperiling negotiations to reach a final peace deal between the United States and Iran.
—Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
Policies of the current federal administration and in certain states have imperiled our global leadership and prospects for the next generations of aspiring scholars of science with the potential for significant damage to our nation’s public health and biomedical and industrial leadership.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 16 June 2026
Her husband, who works in a factory painting industrial trucks, would be penalized for such a move, imperiling future raises.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 16 June 2026
Renewable energy groups suing the Pentagon claim a freeze in national security reviews for wind farms on private land has halted new projects, imperiling $47 billion in investments and 120,000 jobs across 21 states.
—Jennifer McDermott, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for imperil
Cite this Entry
“Imperil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imperil. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
imperil
verb
im·per·il
im-ˈper-əl
imperiled or imperilled; imperiling or imperilling
: to place in great danger : endanger
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