persecute
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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
-
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.
Her new collection pays tribute to women persecuted during historical witch hunts.
From Barron's
She suggests arguing that Epstein was being persecuted due to his "wealth".
From BBC
“This is also a film about infamy, because he’s being persecuted so unfairly. He gets killed, and then they killed him again because they killed his reputation,” Moura notes.
From Los Angeles Times
Many people come to the border seeking asylum, a formal process under which eligible migrants ask the government for legal protections after fleeing places where they believe they would be persecuted or tortured upon returning.
Unlike my recent trips there this one wasn’t interrupted by mass demonstrations on behalf of persecuted Muslims.
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.
