persecute
verb
per·se·cute ˈpər-si-ˌkyüt 
persecuted; persecuting
transitive verb
1
: to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict
specifically : to cause to suffer because of belief
2
: to annoy with persistent or urgent approaches (such as attacks, pleas, or importunities) : pester
persecutee
ˌpər-si-ˌkyü-ˈtē
noun persecutive
ˈpər-si-ˌkyü-tiv
adjective persecutor
ˈpər-si-ˌkyü-tər
noun persecutory
ˈpər-si-kyü-ˌtȯr-ē
adjective -ˌkyü-tə-rē
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Prosecute vs. Persecute
Take care to distinguish between prosecuted and persecuted, although we sincerely hope that neither word applies to you. Persecute typically has a small range of meanings, such as “to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict.” Although the word is occasionally found in dialectal use to mean “prosecute,” many usage guides consider this to be an error. Prosecute is generally found today in a legal context (“to bring legal action against for redress or punishment of a crime or violation of law”), although the word may also be used to mean “to follow to the end” or “to engage in.” If someone is prosecuted they are being tried in a court of law; if they are persecuted they are being targeted and harassed.
Synonyms
- afflict
- agonize
- anguish
- bedevil
- beset
- besiege
- curse
- excruciate
- harrow
- plague
- rack
- torment
- torture
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The country's leaders relentlessly persecuted those who fought against the regime. They were persecuted for their beliefs.
Recent Examples on the Web According to the resolution, the video accuses Ho, Manzo and Do of conspiring to persecute Venerable Vien Ly, the abbot of Chua Dieu Ngu Buddhist temple in Westminster. 
Anh Dostaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2022 But over the years the government continued to persecute religious minorities and political dissenters and isolate itself internationally, and opportunities withered for many Iranians regardless of religion. Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2022 All three countries use a patchwork of laws—often involving vague definitions of morality or debauchery—to persecute LGBTQ people. Matt Burgess, Wired, 7 Mar. 2022 Their departure accelerates a long-running process of shutting down Russia’s civil society, without the state having to persecute and imprison people individually. Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2022 China also employs diplomatic pressure and financial incentives to secure foreign assistance in its efforts to persecute Uighurs abroad. John Beck, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Mar. 2022 While offering design inspiration, the papacy’s alliance with France to persecute the Templars also presented an allegory. Fawnia Soo Hoo, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2022 Increasingly, countries that persecute LGBTQ communities are altering their legal approaches to cases. Matt Burgess, Wired, 7 Mar. 2022 Worst of all, the bill would make the Federal Trade Commission a superagency by expanding its budget by $300 million along with the almost unlimited power to persecute American business with its vast menu of potential offenses. Robert H. Bork Jr., WSJ, 26 Jan. 2022 See More
Anh Dostaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2022 But over the years the government continued to persecute religious minorities and political dissenters and isolate itself internationally, and opportunities withered for many Iranians regardless of religion. Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2022 All three countries use a patchwork of laws—often involving vague definitions of morality or debauchery—to persecute LGBTQ people. Matt Burgess, Wired, 7 Mar. 2022 Their departure accelerates a long-running process of shutting down Russia’s civil society, without the state having to persecute and imprison people individually. Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2022 China also employs diplomatic pressure and financial incentives to secure foreign assistance in its efforts to persecute Uighurs abroad. John Beck, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Mar. 2022 While offering design inspiration, the papacy’s alliance with France to persecute the Templars also presented an allegory. Fawnia Soo Hoo, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2022 Increasingly, countries that persecute LGBTQ communities are altering their legal approaches to cases. Matt Burgess, Wired, 7 Mar. 2022 Worst of all, the bill would make the Federal Trade Commission a superagency by expanding its budget by $300 million along with the almost unlimited power to persecute American business with its vast menu of potential offenses. Robert H. Bork Jr., WSJ, 26 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French persecuter, back-formation from persecuteur persecutor, from Late Latin persecutor, from persequi to persecute, from Latin, to pursue, from per- through + sequi to follow — more at sue
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
persecute
verb
per·se·cute ˈpər-si-ˌkyüt
persecuted; persecuting
: to treat continually in a cruel and harmful way
persecutes
verb
1
as in plagues
to cause persistent suffering to people who were persecuted simply for practicing their religious faith Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- plagues
- afflicts
- tortures
- besieges
- attacks
- torments
- bothers
- curses
- besets
- bedevils
- agonizes
- anguishes
- pursues
- troubles
- stings
- oppresses
- harasses
- racks
- harrows
- assails
- disturbs
- strikes
- annoys
- molests
- excruciates
- aggravates
- irritates
- overwhelms
- grieves
- harries
- victimizes
- pesters
- hurts
- exasperates
- distresses
- tyrannizes
- riles
- agitates
- tries
- irks
- dogs
- vexes
- disquiets
- hounds
- smites
- badgers
- perturbs
- upsets
- rides
- chafes
- worries
- stresses
- stabs
- overpowers
- bugs
- flusters
- crushes
- grates
- martyrs
- galls
- gripes
- pains
- discomforts
- piques
- peeves
- nettles
- pricks
- discomposes
- gets
- wrings
- rasps
- strains
- pangs
- puts out
- smarts
- hagrides
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- helps
- abets
- assists
- aids
- relieves
- delivers
- releases
- soothes
- quiets
- contents
- comforts
- consoles
- succors
- reprieves
- solaces
2
as in annoys
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts she likes to persecute her sister with pointless, annoying questions at very inopportune times Synonyms & Similar Words
- annoys
- bothers
- irritates
- bugs
- gets
- aggravates
- angers
- eats
- exasperates
- infuriates
- riles
- spites
- irks
- vexes
- grates
- chafes
- frosts
- plagues
- harasses
- itches
- provokes
- teases
- worries
- galls
- gripes
- ruffles
- piques
- peeves
- nettles
- wears on
- insults
- offends
- gets to
- enrages
- narks
- rasps
- puts out
- upsets
- antagonizes
- nags
- inflames
- burns (up)
- harries
- rubs the wrong way
- hacks (off)
- unsettles
- rouses
- pesters
- agitates
- sticks in one's craw
- heckles
- gets on one's nerves
- outrages
- devils
- gets one's goat
- sets one's teeth on edge
- distresses
- hassles
- badgers
- disquiets
- enflames
- maddens
- perturbs
- rankles
- roils
- baits
- undoes
- unhinges
- affronts
- incenses
- discomforts
- exercises
- bullyrags
- ballyrags
- frets
- discomposes
- miffs
- hagrides
- freaks (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- obliges
- pleases
- appeases
- placates
- pacifies
- delights
- satisfies
- gratifies
- conciliates
- propitiates
- mollifies
- gladdens
- assures
- reassures
- soothes
- cheers
- quiets
- contents
- comforts
- consoles
- solaces
- hung jury
- hung loose
- hung off
- hung on
- hung on to
- hung one on
- hung out
- hung over
- hung parliament
- hung together
- hung up
- hung up (on)
- hung up on
- hung with
- Hung-wu
- Hungarian
- Hungarian balsam
- hungarian blue
- Hungarian brome
- hungarian clover
- hungarian forage grass
- Hungarian goulash
- Hungarian grass
- hungarian green
- Hungarian Gypsy scale