perpetuate
verb
Example Sentences
Teddy Amenabar, Washington Post, 24 May 2023
To talk about struggles can be even more taboo in these places, and the dream-life exterior can perpetuate mental health issues because folks living there don’t want to seem ungrateful or admit their anguish.
—Amelia Arvesen, Women's Health, 17 May 2023
Overanalyzing a bond perpetuates distance as the moon and Venus clash!
—USA TODAY, 8 May 2023
By suggesting mental illness is linked to mass shootings, Kelly was perpetuating a myth that’s been disproven in several scientific studies.
—Mark Joyella, Forbes, 7 May 2023
While California entered the union as a free state, the reparations board has argued that the state has perpetuated the racist legacy of slavery that helped to marginalize Black communities.
—Justin Klawans, The Week, 6 May 2023
Combating discriminatory practices: Ensuring AI systems don't perpetuate or amplify biases and discrimination, which can lead to unfair treatment in areas like employment, housing, or access to essential services.
—Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 3 May 2023
Seeing legislation, any legislation that targets a vulnerable population is upsetting to me, and seeing people in positions of power push forward things that are really perpetuated out of a place of fear and hate is really upsetting.
—Tori Otten, The New Republic, 1 May 2023
Advocates say transgender people have historically and falsely been categorized as violent or dangerous – perpetuating anti-transgender sentiment and further ostracizing a vulnerable and small population.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'perpetuate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Latin perpetuatus, past participle of perpetuare, from perpetuus
1530, in the meaning defined above
Articles Related to perpetuate
Dictionary Entries Near perpetuate
Cite this Entry
“Perpetuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perpetuate. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.
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Kids Definition
perpetuate
verb
Legal Definition
perpetuate
transitive verb
Note: Courts will not allow the perpetuation of testimony at a pretrial proceeding if it appears to be an attempt to fish for useful material.
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