1
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to
people who were persecuted simply for practicing their religious faith
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of persecute
Under the policy issued last March and reaffirmed last July, immigration officers did not need to give notice or an opportunity for migrants to contest their removal to third countries, so long as the government had received word from that country that deportees would not be persecuted or tortured.
—
Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
The policy allows migrants to be deported to such countries if immigration authorities either have credible diplomatic assurances that they will not be persecuted or tortured if sent there, or have given the migrants as little as six hours of notice that they are being sent to such a place.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Russia has destroyed more than 600 churches, persecuted millions of Ukrainian Christians under occupation, and abducted more than 19,000 children in an effort to break Ukraine’s spirit.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 24 Feb. 2026
China, which jails human rights activists in Hong Kong, persecutes Uyghurs, has killed hundreds of thousands of Tibetans and has committed genocide against the Falun Gong, is on the UN Human Rights Council.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for persecute
Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
The policy allows migrants to be deported to such countries if immigration authorities either have credible diplomatic assurances that they will not be persecuted or tortured if sent there, or have given the migrants as little as six hours of notice that they are being sent to such a place.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Russia has destroyed more than 600 churches, persecuted millions of Ukrainian Christians under occupation, and abducted more than 19,000 children in an effort to break Ukraine’s spirit.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 24 Feb. 2026
China, which jails human rights activists in Hong Kong, persecutes Uyghurs, has killed hundreds of thousands of Tibetans and has committed genocide against the Falun Gong, is on the UN Human Rights Council.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for persecute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecute
Verb
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But my interest piqued recently when the president invited a blue-ribbon panel to the White House for a saving college sports roundtable to dig into the problems plaguing college sports in this country.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
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The mpox virus started to plague the city four years ago when thousands of people were exposed to it.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Asked if that would annoy and possibly anger Texas Republicans who backed Paxton, Minchillo said.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Still, the loss of 4K support will no doubt annoy streamers.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The disease afflicted homosexuals, Haitians, haemophiliacs and heroin addicts.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
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The Warriors are now 5-11 without Steph Curry, who sat courtside while afflicted with runner’s knee, and losers of four in a row.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That didn’t bother the three roaches crawling on the floor by a carbon dioxide tank inside the storage room behind the office.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
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Other clips don’t even bother rendering a proper baby.—
Joe Wilkins Published Mar 12,
Futurism,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Trier's film deals with memory, both actual and transformed through art into something representing memory, as Gustav (Skarsgård) seeks to make a film inspired by the life of his mother, who was tortured by the Nazis and later committed suicide.—
David Morgan,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Within hours, Ruis had beaten and tortured Yates to death.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Since many pregnant and postpartum women either struggle with or are recovering from a weak immune system, even germs from sources as innocuous as a bidet can prove irritating.—
Ethan Stone,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
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What’s more, the leaves contain oils that, when burned, irritate our airways.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The interview takes a bad turn when the Ralph Lauren office building is besieged by the tabloid mob.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
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But the regime, besieged by insurrections across the country, abandoned Manbij.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And also, Bill has to be home and also not bugging me.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Mar. 2026
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Clara could hear Dune’s sister, Fern, in the background bugging Dune to resume their chess game.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Persecute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecute. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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