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
Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 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
Its depictions of dancing devils and witches’ sabbaths are supposed to scare viewers straight, but writer-director Benjamin Christensen is also sympathetic towards the plight of medieval women persecuted for witchcraft.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Create Abundance's lawyer in Canada, Brian Vickers, said that the two companies Li directed were not connected to the group and that it was being wrongfully persecuted.
—Didi Kirsten Tatlow, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
This Committee was initially created during the McCarthy Era, a dark time when the federal government repressed and persecuted American citizens for their political beliefs.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
More and more, people who have loyally served Putin’s system are being persecuted, mainly on the grounds of corruption.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025
Molero and her husband arrived in the United States in 2003, fleeing after they were persecuted for working alongside opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Archival clips show thousands of Jews persecuted in Germany have begun migrating to Palestine.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 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
Its depictions of dancing devils and witches’ sabbaths are supposed to scare viewers straight, but writer-director Benjamin Christensen is also sympathetic towards the plight of medieval women persecuted for witchcraft.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Create Abundance's lawyer in Canada, Brian Vickers, said that the two companies Li directed were not connected to the group and that it was being wrongfully persecuted.
—Didi Kirsten Tatlow, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
This Committee was initially created during the McCarthy Era, a dark time when the federal government repressed and persecuted American citizens for their political beliefs.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
More and more, people who have loyally served Putin’s system are being persecuted, mainly on the grounds of corruption.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025
Molero and her husband arrived in the United States in 2003, fleeing after they were persecuted for working alongside opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Archival clips show thousands of Jews persecuted in Germany have begun migrating to Palestine.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecuted
Adjective
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The song had an aggressive, staccato beat and vocal delivery; the general theme was Michael as an oppressed underdog fighting back.—
Dan Beck,
Variety,
21 Oct. 2025
-
One of the reasons why Muslims fast during Ramadan is to remember those who are oppressed or suffering, and to share in those emotions.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Wars and insurrections have afflicted other parts of the Middle East, but Baghdad—a city whose name was once synonymous with suicide bombings and sectarian murder—has been spared.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The Lakers were down LeBron James, afflicted by nerve pain.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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She’d been awakened by their puppy, and had been annoyed at Ryan, who hadn’t gotten up early with the dog like he was supposed to.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Kelce was evaluated for a concussion in the locker room, and he was annoyed at having to answer the questions that are part of the test.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The idea that a leak of any kind must be coming from one of the cast members is something that has plagued many a Housewives season.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Daylilies are sometimes plagued by pests like thrips, slugs, aphids, Japanese beetles, and spider mites.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Trier noticed that some directors said hello to him, whereas others couldn’t be bothered.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Still, the simplicity wasn’t what bothered him.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Combined with the numbers injured, detained or tortured, at least one percent of the Strip’s population suffered first-hand from Israeli violence during the first occupation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Maloyan served as Archbishop of Mardin from 1911 to 1915 and was tortured and killed after refusing to convert to Islam.—
Jenni Fink,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But those movements further irritated a rib injury that Hendrix first sustained during Wicked night.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
28 Oct. 2025
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The decision by Aaron Turner, Kuminga’s agent, to go on a media tour in recent weeks while negotiating publicly in hopes of landing a better offer for Kuminga, irritated some with the organization, according to league sources.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, Earth itself is suddenly besieged by an alien invasion.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
-
For more than a year, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has besieged El Fasher, its final major barrier to controlling Darfur.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Persecuted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecuted. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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