Synonyms

persecute

American

[pur-si-kyoot] / ˈpɜr sɪˌkyut /

verb (used with object)

persecuted, persecuting

to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, especially because of religious or political beliefs, ethnic or racial origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Synonyms:

torment, torture, afflict
to annoy or trouble persistently.

Synonyms:

pester, bother, vex, badger, worry

persecute British

/ ˈpɜːsɪˌkjuːt /

verb

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

"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

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023