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imperil
/ɪmˈpɛrəl/
put at risk
The new policy could imperil thousands of jobs.
The new policy might endanger the jobs of many people.
formal
to expose to danger or risk
Pollution from the factory imperils the local wildlife.
The factory's pollution threatens the survival of local animals.
His reckless driving imperiled the passengers in the car.
His dangerous driving put the passengers at serious risk.
Often used in formal or written contexts to describe serious threats to safety, health, or stability.
Collocations
imperil livesput lives in dangerimperil the environmentthreaten the environmentimperil national securityendanger the safety of a country
Pro Tip
Avoid redundancy
Imperil already implies danger, so phrases like 'seriously imperil' are redundant. Use 'imperil' alone for clarity.
Gold Rule
Formal tone
Use 'imperil' in formal writing (reports, legal documents, academic papers) rather than casual speech.
Word Origin
From Middle English *empeeril* (variant of *emperil*), from Old French *empeirier* ('to worsen'), from *em-* (intensive prefix) + *pire* ('worse'), from Latin *peior* ('worse'). The verb evolved from the noun *peril* (meaning 'danger'), which itself comes from the same Latin root.
Usage Notes
Imperil is a transitive verb that requires a direct object. It is more formal than alternatives like 'endanger' or 'threaten' and is often used in serious or official contexts, such as legal, environmental, or safety discussions. Avoid using it in casual conversation.
Word Breakdown
im-
intensifying prefix
prefix-peril
danger
rootEnglish Dictionary