imperil

verb

im·​per·​il im-ˈper-əl How to pronounce imperil (audio)
-ˈpe-rəl
imperiled or imperilled; imperiling or imperilling

transitive verb

: to bring into peril : endanger
imperilment
im-ˈper-əl-mənt How to pronounce imperil (audio)
-ˈpe-rəl-
noun

Examples of imperil in a Sentence

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
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.
The government said the mistake should not imperil Menendez’s conviction nor require any action, but attorneys for Menendez and his two co-defendants, New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, disagree. Ella Lee, The Hill, 27 Nov. 2024 The ambitious cuts championed by Musk, however, could imperil an array of federal protections that safeguard against harm in just about every corner of American life, regulatory experts told ABC News. Max Zahn, ABC News, 26 Nov. 2024 These vague, buzzy phrases point to a growing consensus: that China’s ambitions greatly imperil American national interests. Kyle Balzer, Foreign Affairs, 21 Nov. 2024 Lander gave the bleak assessment at a press conference announcing a report on the impacts of the 2024 elections — saying that if Trump cuts federal funding, key infrastructure projects, schools and housing could be imperiled. Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 13 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for imperil 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English inperiled, from in- in- entry 2 + peril peril entry 1 + -ed -ed entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of imperil was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near imperil

Cite this Entry

“Imperil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imperil. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

imperil

verb
im·​per·​il im-ˈper-əl How to pronounce imperil (audio)
imperiled or imperilled; imperiling or imperilling
: to place in great danger : endanger
imperilment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on imperil

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!