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 docu-series, which examines abuses perpetrated by four different religious cults, leads with a focus on Christian Gospel Mission—also known as Providence and as Jesus Morning Star, or JMS.
—
Kayti Burt, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
Multiple administrations have struggled to get a handle on insidious espionage operations, particularly campaigns perpetrated by Chinese and Russian actors.
—Lily Hay Newman, Wired News, 14 Aug. 2025
This year has also seen an increase in Islamist attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as perpetrated by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters, part of the Islamic State’s Central African Province.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
The commission was created in the wake of claims of torture perpetrated by notorious former Chicago police Cmdr.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpetrate
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Kayti Burt, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
Multiple administrations have struggled to get a handle on insidious espionage operations, particularly campaigns perpetrated by Chinese and Russian actors.
—Lily Hay Newman, Wired News, 14 Aug. 2025
This year has also seen an increase in Islamist attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as perpetrated by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters, part of the Islamic State’s Central African Province.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
The commission was created in the wake of claims of torture perpetrated by notorious former Chicago police Cmdr.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 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 4 Sep. 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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