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
Yet Ali’s act does not only evoke terrorist incidents such as the Charlie Hebdo attack, perpetrated by Muslim extremists, just a few months prior to The Red Chador.
—
H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 31 Mar. 2026
Willick was not convinced by this explanation, noting that many graphic and upsetting stories had been shared from the bimah in the past two and a half years—stories about violence perpetrated by Hamas.
—Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Two months later, more than 20 people were killed in the region during a massacre perpetrated by self-defense groups.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Inspired by a real-life Northern Bank robbery, No Ordinary Heist centers on two feuding bank employees who are coerced into perpetrating Ireland‘s biggest bank heist after their families are kidnapped.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perpetrate
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H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 31 Mar. 2026
Willick was not convinced by this explanation, noting that many graphic and upsetting stories had been shared from the bimah in the past two and a half years—stories about violence perpetrated by Hamas.
—Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Two months later, more than 20 people were killed in the region during a massacre perpetrated by self-defense groups.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Inspired by a real-life Northern Bank robbery, No Ordinary Heist centers on two feuding bank employees who are coerced into perpetrating Ireland‘s biggest bank heist after their families are kidnapped.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 26 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 2 Apr. 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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