persecute

[pur-si-kyoot]

See more synonyms for persecute on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), per·se·cut·ed, per·se·cut·ing.

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

Origin of persecute

1400–50; late Middle English; back formation from persecutour persecutor ≪ Late Latin persecūtor orig. prosecutor, equivalent to persecū-, variant stem of persequī to prosecute, pursue closely (see per-, sequence) + -tor -tor

Related formsper·se·cut·ing·ly, adverbper·se·cu·tive, adjectiveper·se·cu·tive·ness, nounper·se·cu·tor, nounper·se·cu·to·ry

[pur-si-kyoo-tuh-ree, -kyuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ˈpɜr sɪˌkyu tə ri, -kyəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjectivenon·per·se·cut·ing, adjectivenon·per·se·cu·tive, adjectivenon·per·se·cu·to·ry, adjectiveo·ver·per·se·cute, verb (used with object), o·ver·per·se·cut·ed, o·ver·per·se·cut·ing.un·per·se·cut·ed, adjectiveun·per·se·cut·ing, adjectiveun·per·se·cu·tive, adjective

Can be confusedpersecute prosecute

Synonyms for persecute

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1. afflict, torture, torment. 2. worry, badger, vex, bother, pester.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for persecute

torture, expel, pursue, injure, maltreat, harass, outrage, molest, hound, oppress, victimize, crucify, bait, distress, afflict, exile, martyr, worry, badger, hector

Examples from the Web for persecute

Contemporary Examples of persecute

Putin would use such a treaty to persecute innocent Russians who have escaped his grasp by fleeing the country.
Putin Toys With Obama as Syria Burns and Snowden Runs Free
Garry Kasparov
July 2, 2013
Not because I think that Obama called Doug Shulman into his office to tell him to persecute the Tea Party.
Boy, the Head of the IRS Went to the White House A Lot
Megan McArdle
May 30, 2013
Yet one of the things it has oppressed is the desire of local majorities to persecute local minorities.
Religious Minorities: Wisely Skeptical of Democracy
David Frum
May 8, 2013
But, then, lacking a solid core, projectors like Gingrich secretly lust after the identities of the people they persecute.
Republican Debate: Why Newt Gingrich’s Performance Should Disqualify Him
Lee Siegel
January 21, 2012
We are also keenly aware of the fact that states routinely use a wide range of charges to persecute the press.
Has the Committee to Protect Journalists Betrayed Turkey's Journalists?
Oray Egin
December 21, 2011

Historical Examples of persecute

Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
Joseph Stump
With your lying tongue you have changed her into a demon to persecute me!
Green Mansions
W. H. Hudson
If they have hated me they will hate you also; if they have persecuted me they will persecute you.'
The Works of Whittier, Volume V (of VII)
John Greenleaf Whittier
They may beat me and persecute me, but I will never deny my God.
The Cat of Bubastes
G. A. Henty
Badges of honor; since to be persecuted is nobler than to persecute.
Dreamers of the Ghetto
I. Zangwill

British Dictionary definitions for persecute

persecute

verb (tr)

to oppress, harass, or maltreat, esp because of race, religion, etc
to bother persistently

Derived Formspersecutive, adjectivepersecutor, noun

Word Origin for persecute

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

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

Word Origin and History for persecute

mid-15c., "to oppress for the holding of a belief or opinion," from Middle French persécuter "pursue, torment, open legal action" (14c.), from Latin persecutus, past participle of persequi "to pursue" (see persecution). Related: Persecuted; persecuting.