imperil

/ɪmˈperəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪmˈperəl/ (ame, ipa) · /im-ˈper-əl -ˈpe-rəl/ (ame, mw)

imperil — verb

  • imperilpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • imperilshe / she / it
  • imperilledpast simple
  • imperiledpast simple
  • imperilling-ing form
  • imperiling-ing form
  • imperiledpast participle

1. to act in a way that exposes a person, plan, or important thing to serious harm,

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to act in a way that exposes a person, plan, or important thing to serious harm, loss, or destruction.

例句

The factory leak imperilled the health of every family living near the river.

imperil + noun (health, safety, lives) as a serious threat

One careless email from Ezra could imperil months of careful negotiation with the partners.

subject = small action; object = large effort under threat

同義詞
  • endanger

    near-synonym; slightly less formal and far more common in everyday English

  • jeopardize

    very close in meaning; often used about plans, careers, and agreements

  • threaten

    broader; can suggest a future possibility rather than an existing risk

反義詞

文法句型

imperil + noun

用法筆記

Formal register; common in news, legal, and political writing. Subject is usually an action, event, decision, or natural force; object is usually something valued (lives, jobs, health, peace, a plan, a reputation). In everyday speech, learners would say 'put at risk' or 'endanger' instead.

常見錯誤

❌The driver imperilled into the river.
✅The driver imperilled the passengers when he sped into the river.
💡imperil is transitive; it needs a direct object.
❌I felt imperilled by the noise.
✅I felt threatened by the noise.
💡imperil is rarely used in the passive about personal feelings; prefer 'threatened' or 'endangered' in everyday contexts.