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.
“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
Nigeria and North Korea top the list of the nations that most persecute Christians, according to International Christian Concern.
From Washington Times • Nov. 2, 2023
“So if you can’t beat ’em, you persecute ’em or you prosecute ’em.”
From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 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.
