Definition of JEOPARDIZING

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 turned up in 1582.) 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

And in the case of Mr. Obama, the Iran nuclear deal — a signature diplomatic initiative that is often cited as a fulfillment of the expectations set by his 2009 Peace Prize — is now in peril, jeopardized by Mr. Trump’s decision this week. — New York Times, "President Trump a Nobel Laureate? It’s a Possibility," 9 May 2018 The idea is that the changes wrought by the state's anti-discrimination bill are jeopardizing non-trans citizens' safety, which is utterly false, according to a UCLA study. — Jenny Hollander, Marie Claire, "This Anti-Trans Ballot Measure in Massachusetts Must Be Stopped," 3 Oct. 2018 Fischer spokeswoman Jean Porter has said providing those names could jeopardize economic opportunities by tipping off a visitor's competitors or influencing the financing options of any future deal. — Phillip M. Bailey, The Courier-Journal, "Mayor Fischer hiding too much from Louisville voters, Angela Leet says," 21 June 2018 And his publication last week of Cohen's banking history - hard-to-get information touching on some of the most sensitive issues before the White House - could jeopardize his ability to represent Daniels in court, some experts say. — The Washington Post, NOLA.com, "Stormy Daniels' lawyer using Trump's style against Trump, a strategy that comes with risks," 15 May 2018 And his publication last week of Cohen's banking history — hard-to-get information touching on some of the most sensitive issues before the White House — could jeopardize his ability to represent Daniels in court, some experts say. — chicagotribune.com, "Stormy Daniels' lawyer is Trump's Trump-like adversary," 15 May 2018 But a court administrator said in an email new motions filed this week could jeopardize the trial's start. — Keith Bierygolick, Cincinnati.com, "The murder case started with a tip from an OB-GYN. Now, attorneys in buried baby case want that testimony barred," 12 Apr. 2018 Proponents, including Canfield, said the requirement for lobbyists to publicly disclose their clients would jeopardize Alabama's ability to recruit employers who want to keep their site searches confidential. — Ivana Hrynkiw, AL.com, "U.S. Marshals arrest man in Birmingham who was wanted in Ohio shooting," 6 Apr. 2018 At this point, various media outlets have published photos of her surrogate, which could potentially jeopardize her safety. — Mariah Smith, The Cut, "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," 5 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'jeopardize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.