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
Hundreds of the University of Michigan's iconic peonies were reportedly cut in an act of vandalism – apparently perpetrated by at least one unidentified pro-Palestinian agitator.
—
Kyle Schmidbauer, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025
By the time Mason gets home, he’s witnessed a brutal amount of violence perpetrated by those who’ve inhaled the pink fog.
—Ilana Masad, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
So, to the extent that cancel culture is running amok on college campuses today, it is almost entirely perpetrated by those on the political right.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce is expected to address the shooting, which was allegedly perpetrated by Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpetrate
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Kyle Schmidbauer, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025
By the time Mason gets home, he’s witnessed a brutal amount of violence perpetrated by those who’ve inhaled the pink fog.
—Ilana Masad, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
So, to the extent that cancel culture is running amok on college campuses today, it is almost entirely perpetrated by those on the political right.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce is expected to address the shooting, which was allegedly perpetrated by Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 22 May 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 12 Jun. 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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