persecute

[ pur-si-kyoot ]

See synonyms for: persecute persecuted persecutor 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

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; see origin at per-, sequence, -tor

Other words for persecute

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

See synonyms for persecute on Thesaurus.com

Other words from persecute

per·se·cut·ing·ly, adverb
per·se·cu·tive, adjective
per·se·cu·tive·ness, noun
per·se·cu·tor, noun
per·se·cu·to·ry [pur-si-kyoo-tuh-ree, -kyuh-tawr-ee], /ˈpɜr sɪˌkyu tə ri, -kyəˌtɔr i/, adjective
non·per·se·cut·ing, adjective
non·per·se·cu·tive, adjective
non·per·se·cu·to·ry, adjective
o·ver·per·se·cute, verb (used with object), o·ver·per·se·cut·ed, o·ver·per·se·cut·ing.
un·per·se·cut·ing, adjective
un·per·se·cu·tive, adjective

Words that may be confused with persecute

persecute , prosecute

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use persecute in a sentence

As with Punjab in the 1970s and 1980s, the government painted any and all dissenters as anti-national—and then persecuted them accordingly.
The Farmers' Protests Are a Turning Point for India's Democracy—and the World Can No Longer Ignore That | Simran Jeet Singh | February 12, 2021 | Time
The idea here isn’t to persecute all of them, though, or tell them “what to think.”
Tucker Carlson stands up for QAnon supporters | Aaron Blake | January 26, 2021 | Washington Post
A cryptocurrency might be used to allow money transfers to persecuted activists, similar to how Wikileaks received donations in bitcoin after its accounts were blocked for leaking classified information.
Who Really Loves Blockchain? Socialists | Charu Kasturi | December 7, 2020 | Ozy
Islamist extremism is the worst persecutor of the worldwide church.
The Holy Land’s Endangered Christians | Jamie Dettmer | January 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Their report is consistent with those of other twin survivors who said Mengele was their protector as much as their persecutor.
Dr. Mengele's Twins | Abigail Pogrebin | October 28, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST

He was a great persecutor of heretics, and united with great talents equally great vices.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel Munsell
But I saw rocks and trees around me; clouds; I was in a grotto and beside me was a man, that persecutor!
Balsamo, The Magician | Alexander Dumas
And just then the cab suddenly stopped, and there was his persecutor rapping on the front glass.
Tales and Fantasies | Robert Louis Stevenson
Bishop Thornton, suffragan of Dover, was an indefatigable persecutor of the true church.
Fox's Book of Martyrs | John Foxe
John Peter, son-in-law of Alexander, a horrid blasphemer and persecutor, died wretchedly.
Fox's Book of Martyrs | John Foxe

British Dictionary definitions for persecute

persecute

/ (ˈpɜːsɪˌkjuːt) /

verb(tr)

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

Origin of persecute

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

Derived forms of persecute

persecutive, adjective
persecutor, noun

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

Browse