Synonyms of persecuted

persecuted 1 of 2

adjective

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

• oppressed
• crushed
• downtrodden
• tyrannized
• abused
• intimidated
• cowed
• maltreated
• bullied
• browbeaten
• mistreated
• dispirited
• hectored
• abject
• hopeless
• disheartened
• despairing
• downcast

persecuted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of persecute

1

as in afflicted

to cause persistent suffering to

people who were persecuted simply for practicing their religious faith

Synonyms & Similar Words

• afflicted
• plagued
• tortured
• besieged
• attacked
• cursed
• tormented
• bothered
• troubled
• bedeviled
• harrowed
• agonized
• beset
• anguished
• stung
• racked
• oppressed
• harassed
• pursued
• disturbed
• excruciated
• overwhelmed
• annoyed
• hounded
• struck
• assailed
• irritated
• aggravated
• worried
• victimized
• hurt
• molested
• badgered
• grieved
• distressed
• upset
• vexed
• agitated
• exasperated
• harried
• tyrannized
• disquieted
• martyred
• irked
• dogged
• stabbed
• riled
• stressed
• discomforted
• perturbed
• tried
• pestered
• nettled
• flustered
• peeved
• chafed
• bugged
• rode
• crushed
• overpowered
• griped
• grated
• pained
• piqued
• galled
• put out
• rasped
• discomposed
• smote
• strained
• smarted
• pricked
• got
• wrung
• hagrode
• panged

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assisted
• helped
• aided
• abetted
• relieved
• delivered
• released
• comforted
• contented
• soothed
• consoled
• quieted
• reprieved
• succored
• solaced

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

• annoyed
• bothered
• irritated
• bugged
• aggravated
• got
• vexed
• infuriated
• exasperated
• angered
• worried
• ate
• burned (up)
• irked
• riled
• grated
• nettled
• peeved
• got to
• chafed
• insulted
• wore on
• itched
• hacked (off)
• griped
• ruffled
• harassed
• galled
• teased
• piqued
• rasped
• put out
• frosted
• spited
• provoked
• plagued
• narked
• rubbed the wrong way
• offended
• enraged
• stuck in one's craw
• upset
• hassled
• heckled
• got on one's nerves
• nagged
• got one's goat
• set one's teeth on edge
• badgered
• inflamed
• roused
• antagonized
• unsettled
• harried
• incensed
• agitated
• pestered
• disquieted
• distressed
• maddened
• outraged
• perturbed
• affronted
• baited
• deviled
• rankled
• unhinged
• exercised
• discomforted
• miffed
• roiled
• bullyragged
• discomposed
• freaked (out)
• fretted
• hagrode
• undid

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obliged
• appeased
• pacified
• pleased
• mollified
• satisfied
• delighted
• gratified
• placated
• propitiated
• conciliated
• comforted
• assured
• cheered
• reassured
• contented
• consoled
• soothed
• quieted
• gladdened
• solaced

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of persecuted

Verb

Many see Trump as the only president to defend Nigerian Christians; his administration claims they are being persecuted by Islamist groups. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026

Fernanda risked her life not only to protect works of art during the war, but also to help politically persecuted people escape the Fascist regime. — Roberto Prieto, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026

García Luna pledged to restore independence and public confidence in the Public Ministry and began reviewing cases involving officials, journalists, and others who alleged that they had been politically persecuted under the previous administration. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026

Many Marranos persecuted by the Inquisition did secretly maintain a Jewish identity. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Since mutants are often feared and persecuted, Professor Charles Xavier, one of the most powerful telepaths in the comics canon, opens a School for Gifted Youngsters as a safe haven for young wayward mutants. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Aug. 2026

Although the two programs similarly target humanitarian concerns, being a TPS holder does not guarantee asylum, which requires that applicants prove they’ve been persecuted on specific grounds. — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2026

In The Bacchae, Dionysus becomes violent only because his existence has been denied and his followers persecuted, and his maenads similarly become destructive only when pursued. — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 31 July 2026

The wild beasts of the wilderness were thus feared, revered—and persecuted. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026