Standard Lemma guide

imperil

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ɪmˈpɛɹəl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛɹəl
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 M P EH1 R AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To put into peril; to place in danger.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To risk or hazard.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

pose a threat to; present a danger to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The pollution is endangering the crops

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: endanger, jeopardize, jeopardise, menace, threaten, peril

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: exist, be

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin im- English im- English peril English imperil From im- + peril.

Across languages

Translations

25 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: излагам на опасност (izlagam na opasnost) — to put in peril
  • Bulgarian: застрашавам (zastrašavam) — to put in peril
  • Bulgarian: застраша (zastraša) — to put in peril
  • Czech: ohrozit — to put in peril
  • Czech: ohrožovat — to put in peril
  • French: menacer — to put in peril
  • French: compromettre — to put in peril
  • German: gefährden — to put in peril
  • Hungarian: veszélyeztet — to put in peril
  • Italian: compromettere — to put in peril
  • Spanish: poner en peligro — to put in peril
  • Spanish: amenazar — to put in peril
  • Spanish: apeligrar — to put in peril
  • Swedish: sätta på spel — to put in peril
  • Swedish: äventyra — to put in peril
  • Bulgarian: рискувам (riskuvam) — to risk
  • Bulgarian: застрашавам (zastrašavam) — to risk
  • Bulgarian: застраша (zastraša) — to risk
  • Catalan: arriscar — to risk
  • Czech: riskovat — to risk
  • French: risquer — to risk
  • German: riskieren — to risk
  • Hungarian: veszélynek tesz ki — to risk
  • Spanish: arriesgar — to risk
  • Swedish: hota — to risk