persecute
Americanverb (used with object)
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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.
verb
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to oppress, harass, or maltreat, esp because of race, religion, etc
-
to bother persistently
Other Word Forms
- nonpersecuting adjective
- nonpersecutive adjective
- nonpersecutory adjective
- overpersecute verb (used with object)
- persecutingly adverb
- persecutive adjective
- persecutiveness noun
- persecutor noun
- persecutory adjective
- unpersecuting adjective
- unpersecutive adjective
Etymology
Origin of persecute
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
John Adams pushed Congress in 1798 to pass the Alien and Sedition Acts, measures that allowed the government to deport and otherwise persecute critics of the administration.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
“Throughout the Scripture, there are two kinds of leaders: those who persecute faith communities and those who protect them,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026
So what motivated people to persecute these women?
From BBC • Mar. 17, 2024
“You don’t have the right to persecute somebody unjustly,” Cliff MacMorris said.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 24, 2023
It seemed that Bobby had lapsed over the years into a state of increasingly frequent paranoia, believing as he did that people and organizations, bonded in a conspiracy, were out to persecute him.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
