persecuted

American  

[pur-si-kyoo-tid] / ˈpɜr sɪˌkyu tɪd /

adjective

1. persistently harassed or oppressed, especially because of religious or political beliefs, ethnic or racial origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

   Having been raised in a frequently persecuted faith, the idea of any state religion makes me very nervous.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of persecute.

Other Word Forms

• unpersecuted adjective

Etymology

Origin of persecuted

persecute ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

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 • Mar. 21, 2026

"Right now everything here is suppressed, everything is persecuted, people are sitting in prisons."

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

Alma David, the U.S. attorney working with Fru, said their clients had demonstrated to a U.S. immigration court that they faced a greater-than-50% chance of being persecuted back home.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

For years, reggaeton was persecuted on the island.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2026

His poor, mad, brooding eyes glared in the moonlight, shone against the persecuted darkness of his scowling brow.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• abused
• destitute
• distressed
• enslaved
• exploited
• helpless