jeopardize

[ jep-er-dahyz ]
See synonyms for jeopardize on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),jeop·ard·ized, jeop·ard·iz·ing.
  1. to put in jeopardy; hazard; risk; imperil: He jeopardized his life every time he dived from the tower.

Origin of jeopardize

1
First recorded in 1640–50; jeopard(y) + -ize
  • Also especially British, jeop·ard·ise .

Other words from jeopardize

  • re·jeop·ard·ize, verb (used with object), re·jeop·ard·ized, re·jeop·ard·iz·ing.
  • un·jeop·ard·ized, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use jeopardize in a sentence

  • Further, another sort of difficulty will jeopardise the chances of success.

    Mount Everest the Reconnaissance, 1921 | Charles Kenneth Howard-Bury
  • But no man can be expected to jeopardise his character, or coquet with the law, unless it be for his own individual interest.

    Night and Morning, Complete | Edward Bulwer-Lytton
  • No longer does any mysterious social power then thwart his plans or jeopardise his success.

  • I was unwilling to jeopardise him by remaining a moment longer under his roof than was necessary.

    Fred Markham in Russia | W. H. G. Kingston
  • She would have spoken earlier, but that she feared to jeopardise her influence by risking a defeat.

    Some Persons Unknown | E. W. Hornung

British Dictionary definitions for jeopardize

jeopardize

jeopardise

/ (ˈdʒɛpəˌdaɪz) /


verb(tr)
  1. to risk; hazard: he jeopardized his job by being persistently unpunctual

  2. to put in danger; imperil

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012