perpetrate
verb
per·pe·trate
ˈpər-pə-ˌtrāt 
perpetrated; perpetrating
1
: to bring about or carry out (something, such as a crime or deception) : commit
2
: to produce, perform, or execute (something likened to a crime)
perpetrate a pun
Examples of perpetrate in a Sentence
The men were planning to perpetrate a robbery.
The attack was perpetrated by a street gang.
He vowed revenge for the crime perpetrated on his family.
Recent Examples on the Web
Flashbacks fill in the backstory of how Minerva and her team perpetrated their scam.
—
Judy Berman, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
Regardless, these comments are blatantly insensitive as political violence should never be tolerated or exploited as comedic entertainment, no matter who perpetrated it.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
After a decade and a half of extreme violence perpetrated by myriad actors, both state and nonstate, Syria faces a long road toward stability under the best of circumstances.
—Caroline Rose, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
Other recent studies have backed the conclusion that murders by far-right extremists are more frequent than those perpetrated by the left.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpetrate
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Judy Berman, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
Regardless, these comments are blatantly insensitive as political violence should never be tolerated or exploited as comedic entertainment, no matter who perpetrated it.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
After a decade and a half of extreme violence perpetrated by myriad actors, both state and nonstate, Syria faces a long road toward stability under the best of circumstances.
—Caroline Rose, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
Other recent studies have backed the conclusion that murders by far-right extremists are more frequent than those perpetrated by the left.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpetrate
Cite this Entry
“Perpetrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perpetrate. Accessed 26 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
perpetrate
verb
per·pe·trate
ˈpər-pə-ˌtrāt
perpetrated; perpetrating
: to be guilty of doing : commit
Legal Definition
perpetrate
transitive verb
per·pe·trate
ˈpər-pə-ˌtrāt
perpetrated; perpetrating
: to carry out or bring about (as a crime)
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