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
Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 5 June 2026
Family members and friends were persecuted, arrested, and killed.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
During and shortly after the Spanish Civil War, Franco’s regime, too, persecuted Esperantists for the language’s association with anti–nationalism and anarchism.
—Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
Blanche, who defended the fund at a congressional hearing this week, has said anyone who believes they’ve been persecuted can apply for compensation regardless of political affiliation.
—Eric Tucker, Fortune, 23 May 2026
Another wore one that read Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness.
—Stephanie McCrummen, The Atlantic, 18 May 2026
My parents were supporters of the anti-apartheid movement and various family members were persecuted for being so also.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 May 2026
When hunted, poisoned, and persecuted, the coyotes scattered and regrouped, their numbers surging a hundred-fold.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Other human rights lawyers have been recently prosecuted in Russia, including Maria Bontsler, a prominent lawyer who defended individuals persecuted by politically motivated charges.
—Irwin Cotler, Time, 8 May 2026
Verb
The Lieser family of Jewish industrialists was persecuted by the Nazis, including being imprisoned, and lost almost all their possessions to Nazi seizure.
—Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 5 June 2026
Family members and friends were persecuted, arrested, and killed.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
During and shortly after the Spanish Civil War, Franco’s regime, too, persecuted Esperantists for the language’s association with anti–nationalism and anarchism.
—Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
Blanche, who defended the fund at a congressional hearing this week, has said anyone who believes they’ve been persecuted can apply for compensation regardless of political affiliation.
—Eric Tucker, Fortune, 23 May 2026
Another wore one that read Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness.
—Stephanie McCrummen, The Atlantic, 18 May 2026
My parents were supporters of the anti-apartheid movement and various family members were persecuted for being so also.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 May 2026
When hunted, poisoned, and persecuted, the coyotes scattered and regrouped, their numbers surging a hundred-fold.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Other human rights lawyers have been recently prosecuted in Russia, including Maria Bontsler, a prominent lawyer who defended individuals persecuted by politically motivated charges.
—Irwin Cotler, Time, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecuted
Adjective
-
The Irish were the original oppressed people from the English Empire, and the original colony.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
-
The body pointed to the fact that Iran’s Farabi cinema body, which oversees the country’s submission, was directly controlled by the hardline Islamic Republic regime government, which in turn has suppressed freedom of speech and brutally oppressed filmmakers across its 47 years in power.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Examples include assisting the blind, providing alerts of sounds to the deaf, assisting those afflicted by seizures, retrieving items, providing physical support, and helping those with psychiatric or neurological disabilities.—
Shari Wald Garrett,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
-
Raspberries are also afflicted with several viruses that can cause plants to decline and ruin the fruit.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
And get annoyed when people spell it wrong anyway?—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
-
Rather than be annoyed, however, both Zach and Kayda seem to mostly welcome Bryce’s presence, all three of them bonded.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
This past offseason was a nightmare filled with mistakes, and the season has been plagued by one injury after another.—
Jim Bowden,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
The charming little burg is plagued by a perplexing dead body problem.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Even if he’s never bothered to pause and consider it.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
-
In some cases, these kinds of candidates have not even bothered to vote, let alone hold public office.—
Garry South,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Six men lured victims to resort then tortured them at gunpoint, FBI says.—
,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
-
And in today's world, with the advent of cyberbullying, thanks to every kid having a digital footprint, a child can be tortured without even seeing their bully face-to-face.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Hasslers, the researchers found, tended to be people who irritated the study respondents but whom the respondents could not escape.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
-
But one snafu irritated a sizable portion of the more than 3,000 students gathered at Arie Crown Theater to hear the astronauts discuss their mission.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The mass shooting that claimed 49 lives and injured dozens of others—the deadliest hate crime targeting LGBTQ+ people in American history—still leaves a grievous mark, most especially in a city, state and nation besieged with new attacks on the gay community.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
In place of the ancient forest was a shorn land besieged by uncontrollable wildfires, prone to land-slides and erosion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Persecuted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecuted. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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