perpetrator

[ pur-pi-trey-ter ]

See synonyms for perpetrator on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person who perpetrates, or commits, an illegal, criminal, or evil act: The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be found and punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Origin of perpetrator

First recorded in 1560–70; from Late Latin, from Latin perpetrāt(us), past participle of perpetrāre “to carry out, execute, perform” + -or -or¹; see perpetrate

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

How to use perpetrator in a sentence

It is unclear whom the perpetrators were or what actions were taken.
Special Forces’ $77M ‘Hustler’ Hits Back | Kevin Maurer | December 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
It is also memories like these that make it easier to write scenes of inflicting pain upon male perpetrators.
Nitehawk Shorts Festival: ‘Brute,’ a Twisted Take on Playing in the Dark | Julia Grinberg | November 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
And when there are transgressions, the perpetrators should be brought to justice, not protected.
How UVA Is Failing Its Women | Allison McNearney | November 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
If there is blame for outbreaks of violence, it will be shared by the perpetrators and the white majority society alike.
Awaiting the Grand Jury, Dread in Ferguson and America | Gene Robinson | November 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The one passed after 9/11 specifically talks about the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks and ISIS has exceeded that definition.
Republican Hawks Already Have a War Plan for ISIS, Ukraine, and Obama | Eli Lake | November 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

The effect of such an indignity was immediate, and brought upon the perpetrators the whole strength of the allied kings.
The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 5 | Hubert Howe Bancroft
We must remember that the perpetrators of such noble acts had persuaded themselves that they were serving God.
The Age of Erasmus | P. S. Allen
They have justified—but in German eyes only—every committable crime, and they cost nothing—except the souls of their perpetrators.
Raemaekers' Cartoons | Louis Raemaekers
Above all, the perpetrators ought not to be permitted to endanger the quiet of France by entering the capital.
History of the Rise of the Huguenots | Henry Baird
The worst criminals are not half so immoral as the creators and perpetrators of the unquestionable hell of Christian theology.
Morality Without God | M. M. Mangasarian

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