persecute

verb

per·se·cute | \ˈpər-si-ˌkyüt

persecuted; persecuting

Definition of persecute

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

Other Words from persecute Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Prosecute vs. Persecute Example Sentences Learn More about persecute

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Other Words from persecute

persecutee \ˌpər-si-ˌkyü-ˈtē

\ noun

persecutive \ˈpər-si-ˌkyü-tiv

\ adjective

persecutor \ˈpər-si-ˌkyü-tər

\ noun

persecutory \ˈpər-si-kyü-ˌtȯr-ē,

-ˌkyü-tə-rē \ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for persecute

wrong, oppress, persecute, aggrieve mean to injure unjustly or outrageously. wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves. a penal system that had wronged him oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform. a people oppressed by a warmongering tyrant persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering. a child persecuted by constant criticism aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights. a legal aid society representing aggrieved minority groups

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.

Examples of persecute in a Sentence

The country's leaders relentlessly persecuted those who fought against the regime. They were persecuted for their beliefs.

Recent Examples on the Web

No,’ when asked by U.S. immigration authorities whether he ever had persecuted anyone on the basis of their ethnic background, race, or religion. — Jeremy Roebuck, Philly.com, "'The only good Krahn man is a dead Krahn man': How culpable is Delco resident for ethnic atrocities in Liberia?," 22 June 2018 The Vatican is probably hoping that members of a more unified church will no longer be persecuted for their loyalty to the pope, and that greater freedom would be given to the church to seek new converts. — The Economist, "The pope and China may be close to a deal on appointing bishops," 26 Apr. 2018 Francis has repeatedly highlighted the plight of Christians persecuted and even slain for their faith in areas where Islamic fundamentalists have targeted them. — Frances D'emilio, USA TODAY, "Pope Francis to create 14 new cardinals in June," 20 May 2018 The law covered people who showed they would be persecuted on one of five specific grounds: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, and social group. — Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, "With 'zero tolerance,' new strain on already struggling immigration courts," 9 July 2018 Much of the Polish resistance in its various movements not only failed to help Jews, but was also not infrequently actively involved in persecuting them. — Jeet Heer, The New Republic, "Israeli historian accuses Benjamin Netanyahu of whitewashing Polish complicity in the Holocaust.," 5 July 2018 Mindful of how the old military regime persecuted the pious, Japan’s police long treated religious groups with kid gloves. — The Economist, "On the hanging of Shoko Asahara, Japan’s nerve-gas guru," 12 July 2018 In fact, articles very similar to yours exist on every racist website, but with inverse colours and with some different criticisms... Do some groups suffer or persecute disproportionately? — Michael Harriot, The Root, "The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: The Longest Clapback Ever," 22 June 2018 Federal law and international treaties require the U.S. to consider if people should be granted asylum for fear of persecuted back home on grounds of race, religion, nationality or political affiliation. — CBS News, "Asylum seekers wait days and weeks at U.S.-Mexico border," 7 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'persecute.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.