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
Synonyms of perpetrate
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
Despite numerous conclusive assessments that the Saudi regime planned and perpetrated Khashoggi’s murder, the high-level officials who ordered his execution have gone unpunished, six years on.
—
Scott Griffen, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
While a decade ago the majority of knife crime perpetrated by young people was related to gangs, this is no longer the case, James Alexander, an associate enterprise fellow in criminology at London Metropolitan University, told CNN.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Sarowitz, [publicist Melissa] Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Nov. 2025
Lajo is a victim of crime perpetrated at the nexus of patriarchy and religious chauvinism.
—JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpetrate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Scott Griffen, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
While a decade ago the majority of knife crime perpetrated by young people was related to gangs, this is no longer the case, James Alexander, an associate enterprise fellow in criminology at London Metropolitan University, told CNN.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Sarowitz, [publicist Melissa] Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Nov. 2025
Lajo is a victim of crime perpetrated at the nexus of patriarchy and religious chauvinism.
—JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 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 9 Nov. 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)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share