perpetrate

verb

per·​pe·​trate ˈpər-pə-ˌtrāt How to pronounce perpetrate (audio)
perpetrated; perpetrating
Synonyms of perpetrate

transitive verb

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
perpetration
ˌpər-pə-ˈtrā-shən How to pronounce perpetrate (audio)
noun
perpetrator
ˈpər-pə-ˌtrā-tər How to pronounce perpetrate (audio)
noun

Synonyms of perpetrate

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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
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.
The pandemic-era posts from El-Sayed did not celebrate the tragedy or the terrorists who perpetrated the attacks. — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 El Sayed denounced the terrorist attack, perpetrated by a Lebanese immigrant who lost family in an Israeli airstrike, but qualified it at the time, offering support for those affected by Israel’s strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 31 Aug. 2026 From the new arrivals, Dresdeners heard the harrowing tales of mass rapes, murders, and atrocities perpetrated by Russian soldiers eager for revenge. — Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026 Violence against the Palestinians, meanwhile, has increased in tandem with the settlements, often perpetrated with the apparent protection or approval of the Israeli security forces. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for perpetrate

Word History

Etymology

Latin perpetratus, past participle of perpetrare, from per- through + patrare to accomplish, from pater father — more at father

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of perpetrate was in 1537

Rhymes for perpetrate

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Browse Nearby Words

perper
perpetrate
perpetration
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Cite this Entry

“Perpetrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perpetrate. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

perpetrate

verb
per·​pe·​trate ˈpər-pə-ˌtrāt How to pronounce perpetrate (audio)
perpetrated; perpetrating
: to be guilty of doing : commit
perpetration
ˌpər-pə-ˈtrā-shən How to pronounce perpetrate (audio)
noun
perpetrator
ˈpər-pə-ˌtrāt-ər How to pronounce perpetrate (audio)
noun

Legal Definition

perpetrate

transitive verb
per·​pe·​trate ˈpər-pə-ˌtrāt How to pronounce perpetrate (audio)
perpetrated; perpetrating
: to carry out or bring about (as a crime)
perpetration
ˌpər-pə-ˈtrā-shən How to pronounce perpetrate (audio)
noun
perpetrator
ˈpər-pə-ˌtrā-tər How to pronounce perpetrate (audio)
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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