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.
Some had been granted the opportunity to stay after proving to immigration judges that they would probably be persecuted if returned to their homeland.
From Los Angeles Times
They have a long history of being persecuted and betrayed.
From BBC
"Right now everything here is suppressed, everything is persecuted, people are sitting in prisons."
From Barron's
“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
Her new collection pays tribute to women persecuted during historical witch hunts.
From Barron's
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.
