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
David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 1 Feb. 2026
During vetting by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, refugees are required to show they were persecuted or face persecution in their home countries and, once in the US, must apply for green cards a year after admission.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Mattarella condemned the complicity of ordinary Italians in the fascist-era racial laws, which persecuted Italy’s Jewish community, and deportation of its Jews.
—Vanessa Gera, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
The Kurds have been marginalized, persecuted and slaughtered by the likes of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and before those states existed, the Ottoman Empire.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Most Iranians know someone who has been persecuted, killed, maimed, or unjustly imprisoned by the Islamic Republic regime that has occupied Iran since 1979.
—Dan Bilefsky, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
Because of these and other views, she was persecuted and imprisoned several times for blasphemy in England.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
People are persecuted, people come here because of the stuff that America is doing to other countries.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
Deep institutional reforms — including changes to the Constitution — need to be implemented to embody credible guarantees that the losers of elections will not be persecuted.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
Trump has promised to help rescue the country’s persecuted protesters as thousands died.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 1 Feb. 2026
During vetting by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, refugees are required to show they were persecuted or face persecution in their home countries and, once in the US, must apply for green cards a year after admission.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Mattarella condemned the complicity of ordinary Italians in the fascist-era racial laws, which persecuted Italy’s Jewish community, and deportation of its Jews.
—Vanessa Gera, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
The Kurds have been marginalized, persecuted and slaughtered by the likes of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and before those states existed, the Ottoman Empire.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Most Iranians know someone who has been persecuted, killed, maimed, or unjustly imprisoned by the Islamic Republic regime that has occupied Iran since 1979.
—Dan Bilefsky, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
Because of these and other views, she was persecuted and imprisoned several times for blasphemy in England.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
People are persecuted, people come here because of the stuff that America is doing to other countries.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
Deep institutional reforms — including changes to the Constitution — need to be implemented to embody credible guarantees that the losers of elections will not be persecuted.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecuted
Adjective
-
Any oppressed people find outlets in humor.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Embarrassment could have been a factor in the rash decision, but Trump is not a man who appears to be afflicted by that particular emotion, which takes its cue from a certain amount of self-awareness and humility.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Thus, taxpayers are often stuck financing underperforming government programs riddled with waste and outright fraud, as was the case in the recent $30 billion scandal that afflicted the state’s unemployment insurance program.—
Lanhee J. Chen,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In one Upper East Side neighborhood known for pristine sidewalks, residents said they were annoyed by the sight of piles of trash bags one after another.—
Naveen Dhaliwal,
CBS News,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Hassan was annoyed by the smell of cigarettes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And the Rams were unable to overcome a special teams miscue, a theme that plagued them throughout the season.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Rodman was plagued by injury in 2025, using the first half of the year to recover from a lingering back issue.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That’s right—if you can’t be bothered to take 10 minutes (or at most, 45 minutes) out of your vacation to follow international safety protocol, you can be kicked off your cruise ship.—
Erica Silverstein,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
-
And while some families might be able to cut down on toys, others might be bothered having toys in every room.—
Jillian Pretzel,
Parents,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Now it’s finally tortured artist Benedict Bridgerton’s (Luke Thompson) turn.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
-
All of this makes the job of being an informed citizen just tortured.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For a long time your political cartoons published in the editorial pages have irritated me.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Jan. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The militants at the time besieged it for months before being pushed back.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
-
To watch Herbert’s film is like watching a report on a place that has subsequently been besieged.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Persecuted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecuted. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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