perpetrate
Verb: 1. To carry out or commit (a harmful, illegal, or morally wrong action). This word almost always describes actions that are negative, criminal, or foolish. * The gang perpetrated a series of robberies. * He was found guilty of perpetrating a fraud.
The verb "perpetrate" is used with a direct object, which is the bad or illegal act itself. It is a formal word often found in legal, journalistic, or official contexts. It emphasizes the carrying out of the act.
Common Collocations: * Perpetrate a crime, an offense, a murder, a robbery, a fraud. * Perpetrate an atrocity, an act of violence, genocide. * Perpetrate a hoax, a prank (often implying a foolish or harmful trick).
- The investigation aims to identify those who perpetrated the attack.
- The regime has been accused of perpetrating human rights abuses.
- (Informal/Humorous) Who perpetrated this terrible pun? (Here, it humorously treats a bad joke as a minor offense.)
- Perpetrator (noun): The person who carries out the harmful act.
- The police are searching for the perpetrator of the crime.
- The word can sometimes be used ironically or humorously to describe something badly executed or foolish, though the negative connotation remains.
- I can't believe I perpetrated such a silly mistake in my report.
- Perpetration (noun): The act of perpetrating.
- The perpetration of the crime was captured on video.
- Perpetrator (noun): The person who perpetrates an act.
- Commit: (The most common synonym) To do something illegal or wrong.
- He committed a crime.
- Carry out: To perform or complete a plan or action.
- They carried out the robbery at midnight.
- Execute: To carry out a plan or order.
- The plan was executed flawlessly. (Note: "Execute" is more neutral and can be used for positive actions.)
- Perform: (Neutral) To carry out an action. When used with "perpetrate," it is part of the definition ("perform an act").
- Prevent: To stop something from happening.
- Thwart: To prevent someone from accomplishing something.
- Rectify: To correct or make right a wrong.
The core meaning of "perpetrate" is to do or commit a bad deed. It does not mean to cause something indirectly or to be responsible in a general sense. It refers to the direct execution of the act itself.
- perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
- perpetrate a crime
- pull a bank robbery