persecute

[ pur-si-kyoot ]

verb (used with object)

, per·se·cut·ed, per·se·cut·ing.

1. 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

2. to annoy or trouble persistently.

   Synonyms: pester, bother, vex, badger, worry

persecute

/ ˈpɜːsɪˌkjuːt /

verb

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

Derived Forms

• ˈperseˌcutor, noun
• ˈperseˌcutive, adjective

Other Words From

• 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-t, uh, -ree, -ky, uh, -tawr-ee], 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) overpersecuted overpersecuting
• un·per·se·cut·ing adjective
• un·per·se·cu·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of persecute¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of persecute¹

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

Example Sentences

That said, most people who may be persecuted in some way—including LGBTQI people—will not have an opportunity to flee.

From The Daily Beast

By using the technology to wire money in the form of a cryptocurrency to persecuted activists or by using it to fund protests — and avoiding capitalist banks and companies in the process.

From Ozy

Gosar called them “political prisoners” who are being “persecuted” and unjustly punished before trial.

From Washington Post

It was a great relief to know that they were victorious in this whole process and that finally no one else will persecute them for loving another man.

From Washington Blade

The state-run China Daily’s “Key Moments from 100 Years” bears no mention of the tens of millions who starved to death in the Great Leap Forward, nor those persecuted during the Cultural Revolution.

From Time

Putin would use such a treaty to persecute innocent Russians who have escaped his grasp by fleeing the country.

From The Daily Beast

Not because I think that Obama called Doug Shulman into his office to tell him to persecute the Tea Party.

From The Daily Beast

Yet one of the things it has oppressed is the desire of local majorities to persecute local minorities.

From The Daily Beast

But, then, lacking a solid core, projectors like Gingrich secretly lust after the identities of the people they persecute.

From The Daily Beast

We are also keenly aware of the fact that states routinely use a wide range of charges to persecute the press.

From The Daily Beast

Seeing that this would not be conceded, he commenced to persecute Christians openly and secretly.

From Project Gutenberg

The Gentiles shall seek and find Christ, but the Jews will persecute him, and be rejected, only a remnant shall be reserved.

From Project Gutenberg

Thou shalt persecute them in anger, and shalt destroy them from under the heavens, O Lord.

From Project Gutenberg

They will make such an uproar that the cabinet will persecute the philosophers and block the Parliament.

From Project Gutenberg

The government had just ability enough to deceive, and just religion enough to persecute.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• expel
• harass
• hound
• injure
• maltreat
• molest
• oppress
• outrage
• pick on
• pursue
• torture
• victimize