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Definition of persecution
1 : the act or practice of persecuting especially those who differ in origin, religion, or social outlook
2 : the condition of being persecuted, harassed, or annoyed
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Recent Examples of persecution from the Web
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In part, Trump's persecution complex comes from his obsessive narcissism:
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Their membership has slowly swelled in the past three years, though persecution and widespread public derision keep them mostly underground.
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The ultra-Orthodox religious establishment sees itself as responsible for maintaining traditions through centuries of persecution and assimilation.
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To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith.
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The highlands hold traces of ancient Jewish communities, though most of Ethiopia’s Jews emigrated to Israel in the 1980s and ’90s to escape famine, persecution and civil war.
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Not just the powerful music but also the harsh reality of the themes of hatred and persecution of minorities and the disabled.
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The U.S. government argues that conditions have improved in Iraq and that there isn’t likelihood of either torture or persecution.
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In that case, a long shot for Lula to become a candidate would be to seek an injunction from the Supreme Court, alleging political persecution.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'persecution.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of persecution
14th century
PERSECUTION Defined for Kids
persecution
playDefinition of persecution for Students
1 : the act of continually treating in a cruel and harmful way
2 : the state of being continually treated in a cruel and harmful way
Law Dictionary
persecution
Legal Definition of persecution
: punishment or harassment usually of a severe nature on the basis of race, religion, or political opinion in one's country of origin claimed persecution and sought asylum
Learn More about persecution
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See words that rhyme with persecution Spanish Central: Translation of persecution Nglish: Translation of persecution for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of persecution for Arabic speakers
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