perpetrate

[ pur-pi-treyt ]

/ ˈpɜr pɪˌtreɪt /

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See synonyms for: perpetrate / perpetrated / perpetrating / perpetrator on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), per·pe·trat·ed, per·pe·trat·ing.

to commit: to perpetrate a crime.

to present, execute, or do in a poor or tasteless manner: Who perpetrated this so-called comedy?

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Origin of perpetrate

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin perpetrātus (past participle of perpetrāre “to carry out, execute, perform”), equivalent to per- per- + -petr- (combining form of patrāre “to father, bring abou”t; see pater) + -ā- thematic vowel + -tus past participle suffix; see -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM perpetrate

per·pe·tra·ble

[pur-pi-truh-buhl], /ˈpɜr pɪ trə bəl/, adjectiveper·pe·tra·tion [pur-pi-trey-shuhn], /ˌpɜr pɪˈtreɪ ʃən/, nounper·pe·tra·tor, nounnon·per·pe·tra·tion, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH perpetrate

perpetrate , perpetuate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use perpetrate in a sentence

Suu Kyi is herself a Peace Prize recipient — and later faced trial for an alleged role in a genocide perpetrated against an ethnic minority in the country.
You, too, can become a Nobel Peace Prize nominee|Philip Bump|February 1, 2021|Washington Post
Those who believe in the cause of the farmers are likely to brush aside concerns of propriety when it comes to protest, pointing instead to the violence perpetrated by the state in the run-up to and on Republic Day.
The Modi government has mishandled the farm laws every step of the way|Rohan Venkataramakrishnan|January 29, 2021|Quartz
Blake said his decision to spy for the Soviet Union came after witnessing what he described as atrocities perpetrated by the West.
George Blake, notorious Cold War double agent who helped Soviets, dies at 98|Taylor Shapiro|December 26, 2020|Washington Post
It’s abhorrent to think that appalling acts in our history were perpetrated by people who were powerless to stop them, because that raises the specter that they might happen again.
How Much Do Our Genes Restrict Free Will?|Hannah Critchlow|November 29, 2020|Singularity Hub

Artemisia’s women, on the other hand, defend themselves, scheme and relish in perpetrating violence.
Why It’s Important To See Women As Capable … Of Terrible Atrocities|LGBTQ-Editor|November 21, 2020|No Straight News
He then had headed undetected back to Syria, where he died perpetrating a suicide bombing in May.
The Mystery of Donald Ray Morgan, the 44-Year-Old American Who Loved ISIS|Michael Daly|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We might start by trying to stem the sale of arms to those who are perpetrating the violence in the first place.
Is it Time to Send Lady Liberty Back to France?|Gene Robinson|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
First, can force be used, without Security Council approval, to deter Syria from perpetrating further crimes against humanity?
Three Key Questions on Syria From Geoffrey Robertson|Geoffrey Robertson|August 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The regime cannot fall without perpetrating a sea of blood.
Obama Warns Assad: Chemical Weapons Are ‘a Red Line for Us’|Mike Giglio|August 21, 2012|DAILY BEAST
She wrote forcefully about the harm caused by discrimination, yet she acquiesced to those perpetrating discriminatory policies.
What Really Happened at Harvard|Samuel P. Jacobs|May 10, 2010|DAILY BEAST
By perpetrating an act of injustice, which would perpetuate agitation.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III.|E. Farr and E. H. Nolan
For fourteen days the Vandals sacked the city, perpetrating unheard-of cruelties.
History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, Volume I (of 2)|John William Draper
He was to prevent the unhappy lady from perpetrating such a sacrilege on the Mediterranean.
The Enemies of Women|Vicente Blasco Ibez
To his habit of perpetrating felicitous absurdities I am indebted for "laughter that is worth a hundred groans."
Out of the Hurly-Burly|Charles Heber Clark
No mercy for the weak who can make no resistance, no scruple about perpetrating a wrong when it can be done in the dark.
The Speeches (In Full) of the Rt. Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., and William O'Brien, M.P., on Home Rule, Delivered in Parliament, Feb. 16 and 17, 1888.|W. E. Gladstone

British Dictionary definitions for perpetrate

perpetrate

/ (ˈpɜːpɪˌtreɪt) /

verb

(tr) to perform or be responsible for (a deception, crime, etc)

Derived forms of perpetrate

perpetration, nounperpetrator, noun

Word Origin for perpetrate

C16: from Latin perpetrāre, from per- (thoroughly) + patrāre to perform, perhaps from pater father, leader in the performance of sacred rites

usage for perpetrate

Perpetrate and perpetuate are sometimes confused: he must answer for the crimes he has perpetrated (not perpetuated); the book helped to perpetuate (not perpetrate) some of the myths surrounding his early life

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

perpetrate

Origin of perpetrate

OTHER WORDS FROM perpetrate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH perpetrate

Words related to perpetrate

How to use perpetrate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for perpetrate

Derived forms of perpetrate

Word Origin for perpetrate

usage for perpetrate