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
Donald Trump favors Russia despite all the destruction, horror and atrocities perpetrated upon Ukraine in the last three years.
—
Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
The former state senator’s forceful calling out of the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas and the lack of response by our congressional delegation should open our eyes and disgust us.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 27 Feb. 2025
Prosecutors in Ukraine have been collecting evidence of the atrocities perpetrated by Russia, with over 153,000 cases of war crimes reported and being investigated so far, and several criminal trials initiated across Ukraine.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
According to theory, words referred not to the world they were tasked with representing but only to other words in a ruthless system where meaning was elusive, reality an illusion and the self a romantic fiction perpetrated by the capitalist bourgeoisie.
—Emily Eakin, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpetrate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
The former state senator’s forceful calling out of the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas and the lack of response by our congressional delegation should open our eyes and disgust us.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 27 Feb. 2025
Prosecutors in Ukraine have been collecting evidence of the atrocities perpetrated by Russia, with over 153,000 cases of war crimes reported and being investigated so far, and several criminal trials initiated across Ukraine.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
According to theory, words referred not to the world they were tasked with representing but only to other words in a ruthless system where meaning was elusive, reality an illusion and the self a romantic fiction perpetrated by the capitalist bourgeoisie.
—Emily Eakin, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpetrate
Articles Related to perpetrate
Cite this Entry
“Perpetrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perpetrate. Accessed 9 Mar. 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)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share