as in to endanger
to place in danger
a single mistake could imperil the lives of everyone involved in the military operation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in risk
the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil
the city has reduced the number of its firefighters, to the imperilment of every homeowner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of imperil
Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
These projects focus on preserving polar bears, rhinos, imperiled cats and exceptional (endangered) plants.
—Leyla Shokoohe, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2025
Tropical cyclones have a greater propensity to rapidly intensify as the planet warms, studies have shown, which could imperil coastal populations that might have prepared for a tropical storm but suddenly face a menacing major hurricane.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
This practice can imperil a criminal prosecution, coroners told ProPublica, because the body — a crucial piece of evidence — isn’t secured through all stages of an investigation.
—Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imperil
Verb
What does ABC's quick pulling of 'Kimmel' mean for the future of a genre already desperately imperiled by a changing media world?
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
These projects focus on preserving polar bears, rhinos, imperiled cats and exceptional (endangered) plants.
—Leyla Shokoohe, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2025
Tropical cyclones have a greater propensity to rapidly intensify as the planet warms, studies have shown, which could imperil coastal populations that might have prepared for a tropical storm but suddenly face a menacing major hurricane.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
This practice can imperil a criminal prosecution, coroners told ProPublica, because the body — a crucial piece of evidence — isn’t secured through all stages of an investigation.
—Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imperil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperil
Verb
-
Poor weather and battlefield obscurants continue to endanger warfighters as adversaries rely on these conditions to escape attacks.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Court records show he is charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering children.—
Jennifer Rodriguez,
Kansas City Star,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The fire risk is related to a problem with the engine starter, which can affect cars that are both parked and in motion, according to a notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
-
They are designed to protect homes and businesses against the type of winter storms that have severely flooded the low-lying community of Alviso multiple times with water up to 6 feet deep and which are posing more risk as sea level rises due to climate change.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The President and his allies have also repeatedly asserted in recent days that Democrats are threatening to shut down the government to secure public money for undocumented migrants, despite the claim being widely debunked.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Additional revelations hint of Kiri's evolving powers, the menacing Quaritch bonding with Varang to help defeat the Na'vi, a spectacular air/sea clash between the Ash People, the RDA, and the Na’vi, and Spider threatening to kill someone offscreen.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Unclear recommendations have unfortunately put access and insurance coverage into jeopardy this year.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The series is all flirtation without consummation, amusement without mirth, inconvenience without jeopardy.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For Moura, the echoes of Brazil’s dictatorship and the dangers of authoritarianism repeating itself, fed directly into The Secret Agent.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Sep. 2025
-
The greater danger is that alarmist messaging will discourage pregnant women from treating pain or fever – putting both themselves and their babies at risk.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That means putting limits on marketing and on the types — and frequency — of gambling — for everyone, not just those already in trouble.—
Karen Brown,
NPR,
30 Sep. 2025
-
No franchises are seemingly in danger of relocating, but its best bet might be to hope that trouble arises in another city.—
Julian McKenzie,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Imperil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperil. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share