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
Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
Most commonly, people felt they were being persecuted via their electronics – that their Wi-Fi networks, computers or cellphones had been hacked or implanted with tracking devices.
—Alaina Vandervoort Burns, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
Some liberals argued the reaction to Fulnecky’s essay was part of a broader effort to cast Christians as persecuted, while many others picked apart her writing.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 14 Dec. 2025
No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion.
—Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 13 Dec. 2025
Karki's attorneys have been fighting to stop his deportation to Bhutan — a small nation between India and China where Karki's family and others with Nepali ancestry were persecuted and driven out in the 1990s.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 11 Dec. 2025
And thousands have been claiming German and Austrian citizenship thanks to a rule granting the designation to the descendants of Jews who were persecuted by the Nazis.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2025
An asylum-seeker who fled Afghanistan last year after being persecuted by the Taliban is at risk of being deported back to his home country, according to his attorney.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 8 Dec. 2025
The apology came after a sustained campaign by historians and activists who argued that the victims were persecuted for being poor, vulnerable, or simply different.
—James Frater, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
Open Doors is a global Christian charity supporting Christians persecuted for their faith.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
Most commonly, people felt they were being persecuted via their electronics – that their Wi-Fi networks, computers or cellphones had been hacked or implanted with tracking devices.
—Alaina Vandervoort Burns, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
Some liberals argued the reaction to Fulnecky’s essay was part of a broader effort to cast Christians as persecuted, while many others picked apart her writing.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 14 Dec. 2025
No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion.
—Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 13 Dec. 2025
Karki's attorneys have been fighting to stop his deportation to Bhutan — a small nation between India and China where Karki's family and others with Nepali ancestry were persecuted and driven out in the 1990s.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 11 Dec. 2025
And thousands have been claiming German and Austrian citizenship thanks to a rule granting the designation to the descendants of Jews who were persecuted by the Nazis.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2025
An asylum-seeker who fled Afghanistan last year after being persecuted by the Taliban is at risk of being deported back to his home country, according to his attorney.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 8 Dec. 2025
The apology came after a sustained campaign by historians and activists who argued that the victims were persecuted for being poor, vulnerable, or simply different.
—James Frater, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecuted
Adjective
-
In 2017, a Radio Free Asia reporter named Shohret Hoshur broke the story that the Chinese government was holding members of the fiercely oppressed Uyghur minority in concentration camps in Xinjiang.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
-
So bringing something that’s a little edgier and a little darker feels like the way theater should go, and usually goes when people feel oppressed.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Surrounding trees, however, were not afflicted.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Support for Bass is more mixed, with her current record containing many more failures than have afflicted either Lurie or any other recent Los Angeles mayor.—
Thomas D. Elias,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Luis is frankly annoyed by this type of music.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Vulnerability is currency on reality television, and after a season of exposing their own struggles and embarrassments, the other women are annoyed that Meredith wants to keep up appearances.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But the hospital has been plagued by security issues in the last few years, and a contract dispute with the nurses’ union.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Commentary and opinions Tim Walz isn’t the only governor plagued by fraud.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The cold never bothered them anyway.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Long stretches of solitude neither bothered him nor appeared to impair his sociability.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Many of the men had been beaten, while women were raped and children were tortured.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The Golden Globes have a history as convoluted and tortured as the ceremony is glitzy and wasted.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The song, which reclaims a derogatory term for Venezuelan female migrants, was interpreted as defiant and irritated the Venezuelan president, then facing widespread reports of electoral fraud.—
Leonor C. Suárez,
Rolling Stone,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Other signs your skin is being irritated by a beauty product include redness or flaking.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The Windy City is suddenly besieged by a string of bomb threats, but in the midst of all the false alarms, a real situation emerges in the form of military-grade smoke grenades, which points to a terrorist threat.—
Will Harris,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
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Halladay said she’s heard from multiple doctors, including her child’s pediatrician, that they’ve been besieged with calls from parents hoping to get a prescription.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
19 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Persecuted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecuted. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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