jeopardize
To put something at risk of loss or harm
Examples
In a meeting
“Missing this deadline could jeopardize the entire project.”
Over coffee
“Don't jeopardize your health by skipping sleep.”
Why this word
risk
Jeopardize emphasizes putting something already valuable in danger, risk is neutral about current state
threaten
Jeopardize implies active endangerment through action, threaten can be passive or potential
endanger
Jeopardize often implies human agency and preventability, endanger is more general
Usage tip
Use when actions or decisions threaten something valuable
Etymology
French jeu parti meaning 'divided game' or 'even chance', originally from chess
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Related words
mitigate
To make something less severe, serious, or painful.
undermine
To gradually weaken or damage something, often secretly or indirectly.
contingency
A backup plan for something that might happen
repercussion
An unintended consequence of an event or action
volatile
Liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse.
imperil
To put something at risk or in danger