imperilled
Facing grave danger
Imperilled is the past tense and past participle of imperil, meaning put in danger or at risk: The oil spill imperilled marine life along the coast.
This British spelling doubles the l; American English typically uses imperiled.
The word carries more gravity than endangered, suggesting serious or imminent threat: Rising floodwaters imperilled the village.
Expressed intent to harm
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- extinctNo longer existing
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
habitat · wildlife · biodiversity · ecosystem · poaching · deforestation · overhunting · overfishing
Indication of potential harm
- riskPossibility of harm
- hazardSource of potential harm
- menaceSource of potential harm
- jeopardyRisk of harm
exposure · vulnerability · precariousness · unsafe · insecure · fragility · instability · uncertainty
threatened
Expressed intent to harm
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- extinctNo longer existing
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
species · habitat · wildlife · biodiversity · ecosystem · poaching · deforestation · overhunting · overfishing · sanctuary
threat
Indication of potential harm
jeopardy · exposure · vulnerability · precariousness · unsafe · insecure · fragility · instability · uncertainty · minefield
emergency
Serious sudden danger
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- calamitySevere misfortune or disaster
collapse · turmoil · upheaval · plight · predicament · distress · adversity · hardship · meltdown · downturn
unstable
Prone to sudden change