as in oppressed
suffering grave abuse or injustice at the hands of one in authority
a nation that is still regarded as a refuge for persecuted people from around the world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in afflicted
to cause persistent suffering to
people who were persecuted simply for practicing their religious faith
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in annoyed
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of persecuted
Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 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
Another wore one that read Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness.
—Stephanie McCrummen, The Atlantic, 18 May 2026
My parents were supporters of the anti-apartheid movement and various family members were persecuted for being so also.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 May 2026
When hunted, poisoned, and persecuted, the coyotes scattered and regrouped, their numbers surging a hundred-fold.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Other human rights lawyers have been recently prosecuted in Russia, including Maria Bontsler, a prominent lawyer who defended individuals persecuted by politically motivated charges.
—Irwin Cotler, Time, 8 May 2026
Individuals with Jewish heritage through their father or a grandparent sometimes identified as Jewish or were persecuted for their Jewish heritage, as was the case under the Nazi regime.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026
Walker, however, agreed with the majority that the president cannot deport migrants to countries where they will be persecuted or strip them of mandatory procedures that protect against their removal.
—Arkansas Online, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
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
Another wore one that read Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness.
—Stephanie McCrummen, The Atlantic, 18 May 2026
My parents were supporters of the anti-apartheid movement and various family members were persecuted for being so also.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 May 2026
When hunted, poisoned, and persecuted, the coyotes scattered and regrouped, their numbers surging a hundred-fold.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Other human rights lawyers have been recently prosecuted in Russia, including Maria Bontsler, a prominent lawyer who defended individuals persecuted by politically motivated charges.
—Irwin Cotler, Time, 8 May 2026
Individuals with Jewish heritage through their father or a grandparent sometimes identified as Jewish or were persecuted for their Jewish heritage, as was the case under the Nazi regime.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026
Walker, however, agreed with the majority that the president cannot deport migrants to countries where they will be persecuted or strip them of mandatory procedures that protect against their removal.
—Arkansas Online, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecuted
Adjective
-
The Irish were the original oppressed people from the English Empire, and the original colony.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
-
The body pointed to the fact that Iran’s Farabi cinema body, which oversees the country’s submission, was directly controlled by the hardline Islamic Republic regime government, which in turn has suppressed freedom of speech and brutally oppressed filmmakers across its 47 years in power.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
But all hope is not lost for the mosquito-afflicted.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
-
Their presence has revitalized towns historically afflicted by the woes of the boom-and-bust cycles of the oil and gas industry.—
Ernesto Sagás,
The Conversation,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Weston Richey, a 25-year-old Texan photographer with whom Kyra seemed to be perturbed, pulled her for a chat to try to figure out why she was annoyed with him.—
Anna Peele,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
-
Frankly, at the end of it all, everyone had good reason to be annoyed.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Control Pests and Diseases Apple trees, like all fruit trees, are plagued by a host of pests and diseases.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
25 May 2026
-
All the problems that plagued Colorado in dropping the first two games of the series at home suddenly reappeared.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Any easy toss-on-and-go dress is always a good idea, especially on hot days when you can’t be bothered to dream up a multi-layered outfit.—
Ali Faccenda,
InStyle,
25 May 2026
-
Pletka said Trump is not bothered by gas prices, the upcoming midterms or his approval ratings, in part because of this being his last term.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
You’d get tortured or killed for just expressing yourself.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
27 May 2026
-
Tursun, 36, told us that her newborn son — one of triplets — had been killed by the Chinese Communist Party and that she was tortured in internment camps.—
Michael Arkush,
Twin Cities,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Some highbrow writers had a right to be irritated by the concept of chick lit, though that wasn’t the fault of chick lit authors themselves.—
Hillary Busis,
Vanity Fair,
4 May 2026
-
His last-minute, mixmaster approach to closing out the transit negotiations irritated several participants, but the end result was a fiscally responsible and transformative restructuring of mass transit in northern Illinois.—
David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Over the years, we were constantly besieged with inquiries.—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
His most recent drama, Evil Does Not Exist, examined the natural world as besieged by modern industry.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Persecuted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecuted. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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