perpetuate

/pəˈpɛt͡ʃʊeɪt/verb

To make something continue existing, often longer than it should.

Example sentences

“Movies like that perpetuate outdated ideas about small-town life.”
“Unfair hiring practices perpetuate inequality in the industry.”

Usually negative: people perpetuate myths, stereotypes, or cycles of poverty. You rarely hear of anyone perpetuating something good.

Synonyms for perpetuate

continue
maintain
sustain
keep alive
preserve

Antonyms

end
abolish

Often confused with perpetuate

perpetuate vs perpetrate
perpetuate vs perpetual: perpetual (adjective): Continuing forever or seeming never to end.

Find it in: Advanced English words.

Related words

perplexTo confuse someone so much that they cannot understand or explain something.permeateTo spread through every part of something, such as a place, substance, or group.perilousInvolving serious danger or risk.perfunctoryDone quickly and without real care or interest, merely because it has to be done.perennialContinuing or staying active through the whole year, or without ever stopping.peremptoryExpecting to be obeyed at once, in a rude way that allows no questions or refusal.