jeopardize
JEP-er-dizeverbMeaning to put in danger or at risk
Memory hook JEOPARD-ize: put in JEOPARDY. Ignoring the THIN ICE sign, Rex skates right out to the middle of the pond, and every crack puts him in jeopardy. He chose to jeopardize his own safety.
Skipping practice could jeopardize Rosa’s spot on the team.
In context By sharing the secret password with a stranger, Kai jeopardized the club’s whole treasure hunt, and the other members had to rewrite every clue.
Similar endanger, risk, threaten, imperil
Opposite protect, safeguard, secure
From jeopardy, Old French jeu parti, “a divided game”: a game whose outcome hangs in the balance.