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
Here, teachers aren’t supposed to tell students that the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 — a defining incident of racial violence in Oklahoma history — was perpetrated by racists.
—
Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2025
This is not just a victory for her, but for every single survivor of the horrific crimes perpetrated by Epstein and his co-conspirators.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Drugs were pouring in; kidnappings and bank jobs were being perpetrated with seeming impunity.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
The Boss was essentially thanking the Taxi Driver scribe for forgiving the creative larceny Springsteen perpetrated in those early days of his career.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpetrate
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Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2025
This is not just a victory for her, but for every single survivor of the horrific crimes perpetrated by Epstein and his co-conspirators.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Drugs were pouring in; kidnappings and bank jobs were being perpetrated with seeming impunity.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
The Boss was essentially thanking the Taxi Driver scribe for forgiving the creative larceny Springsteen perpetrated in those early days of his career.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 20 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 25 Oct. 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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