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jeopardize

verb/ˈdʒɛpərdaɪz/

definition

to expose to danger or risk

example

His reckless driving could jeopardize the safety of other motorists on the road.

synonyms
endangerriskhazard
word origin — from Old French 'jeu parti', meaning 'a game decided' or 'a situation with uncertain outcomes'; roots in Latin 'jocus', meaning 'a game'.

jeopardize, equivocate, engender, culminate, dispose of: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 120. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. jeopardize · verb/ˈdʒɛpərdaɪz/

    to expose to danger or risk

    His reckless driving could jeopardize the safety of other motorists on the road.

    Synonyms: endanger, risk, hazard

    Origin: from Old French 'jeu parti', meaning 'a game decided' or 'a situation with uncertain outcomes'; roots in Latin 'jocus', meaning 'a game'.

  2. equivocate · verb/ɪˈkwɪv.ə.keɪt/

    to use ambiguous language to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself

    During the debate, the candidate chose to equivocate on the issue of healthcare, leaving voters confused about his true stance.

    Synonyms: prevaricate, hedge, waffle

    Origin: The word 'equivocate' comes from the Latin 'aequivocare', which means 'to call by the same name'. It is comprised of 'aequus' meaning 'equal' and 'vocare' meaning 'to call'.

  3. engender · verb/ɪnˈdʒɛn.dɚ/

    to cause or give rise to a feeling, situation, or condition

    The new policy is designed to engender trust among the community members.

    Synonyms: generate, produce, create

    Origin: Middle English, from Latin 'ingenerare', meaning 'to generate, produce'

  4. culminate · verb/kʌlmɪneɪt/

    to reach a climax or point of highest development

    The discussions about the new policy will culminate in a final decision at the end of the month.

    Synonyms: conclude, peak, summit

    Origin: late Middle English, from Latin 'culminatus', past participle of 'culminare', meaning 'to reach the top' or 'to crown'

  5. dispose of · verb/dɪsˈpoʊz ʌv/

    to get rid of something or remove it from consideration

    It's important to dispose of hazardous waste properly to protect the environment.

    Synonyms: dispose, eliminate, remove

    Origin: Middle English 'disposal', from Old French 'disposal', from Latin 'disponere' which means 'to arrange' or 'to put in order'.