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

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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

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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of persecuted
Verb
Those governments provide assurances that people won’t be persecuted or tortured, federal attorneys said. — Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 Also, some immigration cases involve people seeking asylum because they are being persecuted by a foreign government and releasing a person’s full name could be considered sensitive or even dangerous. — Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2026 The Tates have denied all allegations and have claimed they are being persecuted for their views. — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecuted
  1. oppressed
  2. afflicted
  3. annoyed
  4. plagued
  5. bothered
  6. tortured
  7. irritated
  8. besieged
Adjective
  • Roosevelt’s patrician upbringing, as well as ties to her husband’s career, led to certain frictions between the two, with Murray consistently urging the First Lady to act on behalf of Black Americans and other oppressed peoples.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • All of us artists could stand to be more like Mark, willing to speak out for oppressed people everywhere, even when powerful people try to bully us into silence.
    — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of oppressed
Verb
  • Love contains the seeds of its own destruction—the cruelty and self-absorption that turns the afflicted against one another, and themselves.
    — Merve Emre, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026
  • While the epicenter was located in Nantou County in central Taiwan, serious damage afflicted residents across the island as roads buckled, bridges collapsed and landslides destroyed everything in their path.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of afflicted
Verb
  • That was the question that annoyed Steinbrenner, who is backing a system that would strip his team of a financial advantage while falling in line with other billionaire ballclub owners, who tend to vote as a unified bloc.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The innkeeper is annoyed that his wife wants more conversation.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of annoyed
Verb
  • But he was plagued by guilt over his ancestor’s role in the trials, and felt compelled to explore themes of human character, greed, and social decay through his work.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Joan realizes that her mother’s vanishing meshes with a larger tapestry of tragedy that has plagued their family over the years.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of plagued
Verb
  • If they really can’t be bothered to show some respect then we shouldn’t be bothered enough to give them our attention and money.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Blitzes also haven’t bothered USC’s passing attack much, either.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of bothered
Verb
  • His underlings kidnapped and tortured a dealer who refused to pay, the indictment said.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The organization advocating on his behalf said Gilman had been tortured in Russian detention.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of tortured
Verb
  • Some develop in varicose veins; others form where a needle or IV has irritated a vein.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The episode confused and irritated the Red Sox, and following Saturday’s win starting pitcher Sonny Gray acknowledged that Alexander’s antics had provided the club with extra motivation.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of irritated
Verb
  • Mehra – director of 2016 pic Baar Baar Dekho and creator of Prime Video series Big Girls Don’t Cry – says that while Indian audiences are besieged by films and TV content right now, where Hunkkaar has cut through is in its subject matter.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Its largest medical center, Al-Shifa Hospital, was besieged, bombed, and raided, under false pretexts, resulting in hundreds of deaths inside.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of besieged

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Cite this Entry

“Persecuted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecuted. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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