Jeopardize
verb Base: jeopardize | Past: jeopardized | Past Participle: jeopardized | -ing: jeopardizing | 3rd person: jeopardizes
Definition
Put something or someone in danger of being harmed, damaged, or destroyed.
Context Alive
He had worked for years to build his reputation at the company. But one careless email jeopardized everything he had achieved, putting his promotion and even his job at serious risk. His manager called him in the next morning with a very concerned look on her face.
Meanings
1 meaning 1 Put Something in Danger of Being Harmed or Destroyed (Verb) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about putting something valuable at risk. Imagine a student who has been accepted into a great university, but starts skipping classes and failing exams — she’s jeopardizing her place at the school. This is jeopardizing — doing something that threatens a good situation. You might say “don’t jeopardize your health by skipping meals” or someone could warn “this scandal could jeopardize the whole project.” Or think about an athlete who goes out partying the night before a big game and jeopardizes his team’s chance of winning. The word carries a strong sense of unnecessary risk and potential loss. ✏️ Jeopardize is stronger than “risk” — it suggests the danger is serious and the consequences could be very damaging.
Vivid ExampleThe company had spent months preparing for the deal. But a leaked document jeopardized the entire negotiation, making the other side question whether they could still trust the partnership. Everyone in the office was in panic mode.
Examples from the Street
“One stupid mistake could jeopardize everything we’ve worked for.”
A single foolish error could put at risk all the progress and effort we’ve invested
“I’m not going to jeopardize my career over this.”
I refuse to risk damaging my professional future because of this situation
“His drinking is jeopardizing his marriage.”
His alcohol problem is putting his relationship with his wife in serious danger of falling apart
Common Patterns
jeopardize [something important] → put something valuable in danger of being lost, damaged, or destroyed
jeopardize [someone’s] career/future/reputation → risk seriously harming someone’s professional or personal standing
jeopardize a relationship/marriage/friendship → put a personal bond in danger of breaking down
jeopardize the chances/success/outcome of → threaten the likelihood of a positive result
could/would/might jeopardize → warning that something has the potential to cause serious harm
jeopardize safety/security/health → put physical wellbeing or protection at risk
jeopardize a deal/agreement/negotiation → threaten to collapse a business arrangement
jeopardize the peace/stability/progress → endanger a positive or fragile situation
risk jeopardizing → run the danger of putting something important at risk
anything that could jeopardize → referring to potential threats to something valuable
Collocations
3 collocationsjeopardize your career
put your professional future at risk
jeopardize the mission
threaten the success of an operation
jeopardize a relationship
endanger a personal connection
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
One careless comment on social media could jeopardize your career overnight
A single thoughtless post online could put your entire professional future at risk before you even wake up the next morning.
2
I’m not willing to jeopardize my reputation by getting involved in something shady
I refuse to risk damaging the good name I’ve built by taking part in anything dishonest or suspicious.
3
His constant lying is jeopardizing his marriage — his wife doesn’t trust a word he says anymore
His habit of being dishonest is pushing his relationship to breaking point — his partner has lost all faith in anything that comes out of his mouth.
4
The scandal could jeopardize the company’s chances of securing the government contract
The public controversy threatens to destroy the firm’s opportunity to win the lucrative agreement with the authorities.
5
Skipping the safety checks would jeopardize the lives of everyone on board
Cutting corners on the security procedures would put every single passenger in serious danger.
6
She didn’t want to jeopardize the deal by bringing up the pricing issue too early
She was worried that raising the question of cost too soon might cause the entire agreement to fall apart.
7
The leak jeopardized national security and led to the arrest of three intelligence officers
The release of classified information endangered the country’s safety and resulted in three spies being taken into custody.
8
Poor weather conditions are jeopardizing the success of this year’s harvest
Terrible climate conditions are threatening to ruin the crop yield for the current growing season.
9
The ceasefire is fragile, and any provocation could jeopardize the peace process
The temporary halt in fighting is delicate, and the smallest aggressive act could destroy the efforts to end the conflict permanently.
10
He knew that reporting his boss would risk jeopardizing his own position, but he did it anyway
He understood that filing a complaint against his superior might endanger his own job, but he went ahead with it regardless.
Learner Examples
★
Using your phone during class doesn’t just waste your time — it jeopardizes your chances of passing the final exam
Scrolling through your device during lessons isn’t just a distraction — it puts your ability to succeed in the end-of-term test in serious danger.
★
A teacher who shows favouritism risks jeopardizing the trust of the entire class — students notice unfairness immediately
An instructor who treats certain learners better than others runs the danger of losing the confidence of every student — young people pick up on unequal treatment straight away.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
0 items
Synonyms & Antonyms
7 items
Synonymsendanger
put at risk
risk
expose to danger
threaten
put in danger
compromise
weaken or harm
Antonymsprotect
keep safe
safeguard
defend from harm
secure
make safe