1
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to
people who were persecuted simply for practicing their religious faith
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to annoy
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of persecute
The Secret Agent’s primary setting is a house full of misfits and refugees in the northeastern city of Recife, a safe harbor from those persecuted by the country’s military regime, ruled over by the inimitable Dona Sebastiana (Tânia Maria, whose role was written specifically for her).
—
Nate Jones, Vulture, 6 Feb. 2026
His previously peaceful world had been shattered when Vilna was occupied by the German army three months before and soon the Germans began to persecute and arrest Jews.
—Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
Trump has promised to help rescue the country’s persecuted protesters as thousands died.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 1 Feb. 2026
During vetting by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, refugees are required to show they were persecuted or face persecution in their home countries and, once in the US, must apply for green cards a year after admission.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for persecute
Nate Jones, Vulture, 6 Feb. 2026
His previously peaceful world had been shattered when Vilna was occupied by the German army three months before and soon the Germans began to persecute and arrest Jews.
—Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
Trump has promised to help rescue the country’s persecuted protesters as thousands died.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 1 Feb. 2026
During vetting by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, refugees are required to show they were persecuted or face persecution in their home countries and, once in the US, must apply for green cards a year after admission.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for persecute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecute
Verb
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That first test flight was also plagued by hydrogen fuel leaks before blasting off, as well as a helium issue similar to the one that arose Saturday.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
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Nell Tiger Free stars as a young novice who works at a Catholic orphanage plagued by mysterious, disturbing circumstances.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Maybe this will be the year when the owner stops being annoyed.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
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In the statement, the zoo said the mother may have thought her baby was annoyed with Punch, which upset her.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Those who aren’t afflicted by the syndrome might think dark thoughts, but they are kept buttoned up.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
23 Feb. 2026
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Costco's popular rotisserie chicken is at the center of another lawsuit, this one claiming that a chicken processing plant in Nebraska is afflicted by salmonella contamination, possibly affecting hundreds of millions of the birds sold through the warehouses.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The man himself might have argued forcefully that the one didn’t prove the other, that many Muslims in his hometown never bothered to circumcise their children.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
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But only part of that really bothered the Florida Department of Health about Sidney Moritz, once known as Sandy Montano.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The cartel is alleged to have tortured or killed those who tried to resist or escape.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
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The most emblematic case connected to him is that of General Alberto Bachelet, father of former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, who died after being tortured by the dictatorship.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And for Paramount, losing an expensive late-night comedian and irritating a few TV personalities may ultimately be the cost of doing business in a world where the biggest transactions could hinge on the feelings of a mercurial and demanding world leader.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
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If something irritates you, the Aries moon encourages you to speak up.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Destruction in Mariupol At the start of the war, Russian forces besieged Mariupol before the port city fell in May 2022.—
Yuras Karmanau,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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The Adams administration was besieged with corruption at every level—the Blackness of the perpetrators was of no solace.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Ending in a way that won’t bug you for the rest of your life.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 Feb. 2026
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Don’t let those small scratches bug you—just use a little Bar Keeper’s Friend to buff them out.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Persecute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecute. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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