as in harassment
something that causes mental distress
The media's constant persecution was beginning to affect their lives.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of persecution
This is unprecedented — a fee has never before been imposed on migrants fleeing persecution.
—
Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2025
Russia has a long history of such persecution — closing Christian churches in Georgia under the Soviet Union and persecuting Jehovah’s Witnesses and other Christian churches at home.
Ukraine, like many nations, has struggled with corruption.
—Laura Thornton, Twin Cities, 27 June 2025
Abrego Garcia, however, had been granted a legal status known as withholding of removal in 2019, which prevented the Department of Homeland Security from deporting him to his home country of El Salvador because of likely persecution by gangs.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 25 June 2025
An immigration judge had ordered that Abrego Garcia could not be deported there due to the risk of persecution.
—Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for persecution
Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2025
Russia has a long history of such persecution — closing Christian churches in Georgia under the Soviet Union and persecuting Jehovah’s Witnesses and other Christian churches at home.
Ukraine, like many nations, has struggled with corruption.
—Laura Thornton, Twin Cities, 27 June 2025
Abrego Garcia, however, had been granted a legal status known as withholding of removal in 2019, which prevented the Department of Homeland Security from deporting him to his home country of El Salvador because of likely persecution by gangs.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 25 June 2025
An immigration judge had ordered that Abrego Garcia could not be deported there due to the risk of persecution.
—Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for persecution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecution
Noun
-
Though Trump is backing away from Putin in public, he’s never specifically projected anger about the paused weapons for Ukraine.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
9 July 2025
-
Music and song have changed the world in positive, enduring ways that fear, anger, and violence never have.—
Chris John Amorosino,
Hartford Courant,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
Fortunately, there are ways to manage the dryness and irritation, including taking warm (not hot) baths, using a humidifier and applying a creamy, fragrance-free moisturizer within three minutes of bathing and throughout the day, the AADA notes.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Flow Space,
7 July 2025
-
And despite the tight fit, the fabric felt soft against the skin without any abrasion or irritation.—
Kevin Brouillard,
Travel + Leisure,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Persecution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecution. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share