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

People in Germany did not wake up one day and decide that persecuting minorities was a bad idea. — Jennifer Wright, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Midterm Election Results Explained," 7 Nov. 2018 The case has highlighted how Indonesia's blasphemy law has become a tool for Islamic hardliners to persecute followers of minority religions. — Fox News, "Indonesia blasphemy woman endures cramped cell, bad food," 27 Sep. 2018 The album’s stark cover, with the artist teary-eyed with his hand over his mouth, is his reaction to black people who have been persecuted and killed. — Gerrick D. Kennedy, latimes.com, "How introspective hip-hop artist Roy Kinsey turned trauma into triumph," 6 June 2018 Indeed, looting museums was one of the charges that the authorities leveled against Parajanov, a nonconformist who was persecuted and imprisoned on suspicions of homosexuality and became a cause célèbre among Western cinephiles. — New York Times, "In ‘The Color of Pomegranates,’ the Cinema of the Cryptic," 24 May 2018 Putin gangsters followed and enlisted CICIG to persecute them. — Mary Anastasia O’grady, WSJ, "Russia’s Latin American Offensive," 2 Dec. 2018 Each side sought to project images of social and cultural superiority; stories of people corrupted by the decadent West or persecuted by the KGB were turned into weapons. — The Economist, "The death of the archetypal Russian villain," 28 June 2018 The conflict began in late 1989 with Taylor’s forces – primarily Liberians from the Gio and Mano tribes — attempting to unseat Doe, an ethnic Krahn who had his own bloody record of persecuting members of rival ethnicities. — 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 Mian's abrupt resignation came as a major blow to the 500,000-strong Ahmadi community, which already feels persecuted and afraid. — Fox News, "Pakistan's Ahmadis fearful as leaders bow to extremists," 28 Sep. 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.