jeopardize

verb

jeop·​ar·​dize ˈje-pər-ˌdīz 

jeopardized; jeopardizing

transitive verb

: to expose to danger or risk : imperil

a decision that could jeopardize her career

laws jeopardizing freedom of speech

Did you know?

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 didn't arrive until the late 16th century.) 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.

Synonyms

• adventure
• compromise
• endanger
• gamble (with)
• hazard
• imperil
• jeopard
• menace
• peril
• risk
• venture

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

Failure to renew the taxes would have hurt children with chronic illnesses, force nursing homes to close, shut down rural hospitals, collapse mental health care services, and jeopardize pharmacy and emergency services, the groups said. —Anna Sago, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2024

The Republican warned in January that the state's status as a national leader in automotive manufacturing — and the 50,000 jobs that came with it — is being jeopardized by the UAW. —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 13 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

see jeopardy

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

jeopardize

verb

jeop·​ar·​dize ˈjep-ər-ˌdīz 

jeopardized; jeopardizing

: to expose to danger