Synonyms of persecute

persecute

verb

ˈpər-si-ˌkyüt 

1

as in to plague

to cause persistent suffering to

people who were persecuted simply for practicing their religious faith

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plague
• afflict
• torture
• besiege
• attack
• torment
• bother
• curse
• beset
• bedevil
• anguish
• agonize
• harrow
• sting
• harass
• trouble
• oppress
• pursue
• rack
• excruciate
• annoy
• disturb
• assail
• strike
• molest
• overwhelm
• aggravate
• irritate
• victimize
• hurt
• vex
• try
• exasperate
• hound
• grieve
• badger
• distress
• agitate
• smite
• pester
• rile
• dog
• worry
• tyrannize
• upset
• irk
• perturb
• harry
• ride
• stab
• discomfort
• overpower
• pain
• put out
• crush
• gall
• chafe
• bug
• gripe
• pique
• discompose
• disquiet
• fluster
• grate
• stress
• nettle
• prick
• martyr
• rasp
• strain
• wring
• get
• peeve
• smart
• hagride
• pang

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• help
• assist
• aid
• relieve
• abet
• deliver
• release
• soothe
• comfort
• content
• quiet
• console
• reprieve
• succor
• solace

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• annoy
• bother
• irritate
• bug
• aggravate
• get
• spite
• eat
• exasperate
• infuriate
• vex
• anger
• rile
• irk
• burn (up)
• get to
• wear on
• worry
• harass
• itch
• provoke
• hack (off)
• grate
• frost
• put out
• gall
• chafe
• tease
• ruffle
• insult
• gripe
• plague
• pique
• nettle
• offend
• nark
• rasp
• rub the wrong way
• peeve
• enrage
• stick in one's craw
• heckle
• upset
• rouse
• antagonize
• get on one's nerves
• get one's goat
• set one's teeth on edge
• inflame
• devil
• nag
• unsettle
• badger
• pester
• agitate
• harry
• outrage
• hassle
• distress
• perturb
• bait
• discomfort
• rankle
• affront
• incense
• exercise
• roil
• discompose
• undo
• disquiet
• unhinge
• madden
• bullyrag
• freak (out)
• hagride
• fret
• miff

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appease
• placate
• conciliate
• oblige
• pacify
• please
• satisfy
• gratify
• delight
• propitiate
• mollify
• assure
• reassure
• cheer
• comfort
• soothe
• content
• quiet
• gladden
• console
• solace

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb persecute differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of persecute are aggrieve, oppress, and wrong. While all these words mean "to injure unjustly or outrageously," persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering.

a child persecuted by constant criticism

When is aggrieve a more appropriate choice than persecute?

Although the words aggrieve and persecute have much in common, aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights.

a legal aid society representing aggrieved minority groups

When might oppress be a better fit than persecute?

The meanings of oppress and persecute largely overlap; however, oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform.

a people oppressed by a warmongering tyrant

When could wrong be used to replace persecute?

The synonyms wrong and persecute are sometimes interchangeable, but wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves.

a penal system that had wronged him

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of persecute

Former President Francisco Macias Nguema persecuted Catholics, closed several churches and banned the church in 1978 to cut ties with Spain, the country’s former colonial power. —ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026

Alex isn’t persecuted for being trans. —Brittany Delay, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026

Jews were not necessarily being persecuted in Hungary at that point. —Marcy Thompson, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2026

For years, deportations could be indefinitely delayed if an immigrant successfully argued that they’d be tortured or persecuted if they were returned home. —Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026