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

Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally. —Isaac Butler, New Yorker, 30 May 2026

During and shortly after the Spanish Civil War, Franco’s regime, too, persecuted Esperantists for the language’s association with anti–nationalism and anarchism. —Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026

Behind the story One of the really big stories on my beat covering China for the last decade has been Beijing's intensive ramp-up in detaining and persecuting Uyghurs, a primarily Muslim ethnic minority. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 26 May 2026

Blanche, who defended the fund at a congressional hearing this week, has said anyone who believes they’ve been persecuted can apply for compensation regardless of political affiliation. —Eric Tucker, Fortune, 23 May 2026