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
Violence perpetrated by gangs resulted in at least 1,424 people killed and 790 injured; operations against gangs led by security forces, meanwhile, caused at least 3,497 deaths and 1,742 injuries; attacks against gangs by self-defense groups have caused at least 598 deaths and 76 injuries.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Not only perpetrated by the Nazis, but also by Flemish guards who oversaw the prisoners.
—Kevin Giraud, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
In the mind of the plagiarized, as often as not, what has been perpetrated is nothing less than an outrage.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
The Temple Israel attack was perpetrated by an individual personally connected to the Middle East conflict — members of his family were killed in Lebanon during an Israeli strike.
—Joshua M. Davidson, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perpetrate
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Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Not only perpetrated by the Nazis, but also by Flemish guards who oversaw the prisoners.
—Kevin Giraud, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
In the mind of the plagiarized, as often as not, what has been perpetrated is nothing less than an outrage.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
The Temple Israel attack was perpetrated by an individual personally connected to the Middle East conflict — members of his family were killed in Lebanon during an Israeli strike.
—Joshua M. Davidson, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perpetrate
Cite this Entry
“Perpetrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perpetrate. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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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