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
The worldwide box office leader takes a hard look at the 1937-1938 Nanjing Massacre, perpetrated by the Imperial Japanese Army against Chinese civilians and prisoners of war during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
—
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2025
The atrocities perpetrated by Daesh against the Yazidis, Christians, and other religious and ethnic minority communities have been recognized as meeting the legal definition of genocide by the United Nations and several countries (both governments and parliaments).
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
The blockbuster shawarma-chomping party brings together Cap, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye and Hulk (hello, Mark Ruffalo!) to stave off an alien invasion of Manhattan perpetrated by Loki.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 July 2025
But who? Many Westerners, especially young people, have latched onto a flagrantly false accusation: Gaza is in dire straits because Israel is in the process of perpetrating a genocide.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpetrate
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Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2025
The atrocities perpetrated by Daesh against the Yazidis, Christians, and other religious and ethnic minority communities have been recognized as meeting the legal definition of genocide by the United Nations and several countries (both governments and parliaments).
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
The blockbuster shawarma-chomping party brings together Cap, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye and Hulk (hello, Mark Ruffalo!) to stave off an alien invasion of Manhattan perpetrated by Loki.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 July 2025
But who? Many Westerners, especially young people, have latched onto a flagrantly false accusation: Gaza is in dire straits because Israel is in the process of perpetrating a genocide.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 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 21 Aug. 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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