imperil
/ɪmˈpɛrɪl
/ /ɪmˈpɛr(ə)l/verb (imperils, imperilling, imperilled; US imperiling, imperiled) [with object]
Put at risk of being harmed, injured, or destroyed: they advised against tax increases for fear of imperilling the recovery...
- He was said to be the source of the description of the chancellor as ‘psychologically flawed’ and that would have fitted: he always seemed ready to do anything and destroy anyone who imperilled his man.
- Allowing workers to divert some of this money into the stock market will not only put their retirement future at risk, it will imperil the federal government's ability to keep its commitment to current retirees.
- Here's another comedy in which a neurotic schmuck is imperilled and injured in a series of encounters with his new in-laws.
Synonyms
endanger, jeopardize, risk, put at risk, put in danger, expose to danger, put in jeopardy, expose, leave vulnerable, put someone's life on the line;
threaten, pose a threat to, be a danger to, be detrimental to, damage, injure, harm, do harm to
archaic peril
Derivatives
imperilment
urban sprawl is the leading cause of species imperilment in California
Origin
Late Middle English: from peril, probably on the pattern of endanger.