persecute

[pur-si-kyoot]

verb (used with object)

persecuted, persecuting 

1. to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, especially because of religious or political beliefs, ethnic or racial origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

   Synonyms: torment, torture, afflict

2. to annoy or trouble persistently.

   Synonyms: pester, bother, vex, badger, worry

persecute

/ ˈpɜːsɪˌkjuːt /

verb

1. to oppress, harass, or maltreat, esp because of race, religion, etc

2. to bother persistently

Other Word Forms

• persecutingly adverb
• persecutive adjective
• persecutiveness noun
• persecutor noun
• persecutory adjective
• nonpersecuting adjective
• nonpersecutive adjective
• nonpersecutory adjective
• overpersecute verb (used with object)
• unpersecuting adjective
• unpersecutive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of persecute¹

First recorded in 1400–50; Late Middle English; back formation from persecutour “persecutor,” ultimately from Late Latin persecūtor originally “prosecutor,” equivalent to persecū-, variant stem of persequī “to prosecute, pursue closely” + -tor; per-, sequence, -tor

Word History and Origins

Origin of persecute¹

C15: from Old French persecuter, back formation from persecuteur, from Late Latin persecūtor pursuer, from persequī to take vengeance upon

Example Sentences

The group’s statement warned that “those forces have returned,” recalling what it called “a dark time when the federal government repressed and persecuted American citizens for their political beliefs.”

Read more on Salon

“The fact remains that Comey is being persecuted, not prosecuted, for putting service to the nation above obedience to a man,” the Guardian’s Lawrence Douglas wrote.

Read more on Salon

Instead, she lives in a trailer on the homestead, where she feels persecuted by the blazing sun that her tree canopy used to shield her from.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Let us protect religious liberty," he told the UN, "including for the most persecuted religion on the planet today – it's called Christianity."

Read more on BBC

My grandparents knew first hand what it was to be persecuted for who you were and what you thought or said.

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Related Words

• expel 
• harass 
• hound 
• injure 
• maltreat 
• molest 
• oppress 
• outrage 
• pick on 
• pursue 
• torture 
• victimize