1
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to
people who were persecuted simply for practicing their religious faith
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to annoy
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of persecute
Recent refugees include Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, Afghans who served the U.S. military and now face threats under the Taliban, and persecuted religious and ethnic minorities like Uyghurs, Bahá’ís, and Iranian Christians.
—
Sophie Hills, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2025
In 2019 during an immigration hearing, a judge issued a removal order, but added a clause preventing Abrego Garcia's removal to El Salvador because there was enough evidence he could be persecuted if returned home.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
In a video posted to his Truth Social platform in December 2023, Trump accused the FBI and DOJ of sending undercover spies to churches to persecute people of faith.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
The statement concluded with an expression of solidarity with Christians who are persecuted.
—Chloe Breyer, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for persecute
Sophie Hills, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2025
In 2019 during an immigration hearing, a judge issued a removal order, but added a clause preventing Abrego Garcia's removal to El Salvador because there was enough evidence he could be persecuted if returned home.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
In a video posted to his Truth Social platform in December 2023, Trump accused the FBI and DOJ of sending undercover spies to churches to persecute people of faith.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
The statement concluded with an expression of solidarity with Christians who are persecuted.
—Chloe Breyer, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for persecute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecute
Verb
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But the final 22 minutes of Game 5 demonstrated the same weaknesses that plagued Orlando for the entire season and throughout the playoff series.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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In a system plagued by fragmentation, mobile care can deliver both clinical impact and operational edge.—
Paulina Wierzbicka,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Easily annoyed by noises like gum smacking or cereal slurping.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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The controversy over attire comes just two months after Zelensky was criticized and called disrespectful by a reporter at the White House for not wearing a suit during his visit to the Oval Office, with reports suggesting that Trump was annoyed by Zelensky's choice of clothing.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But in the midst of profound uncertainty and genuine pain and dislocation afflicting many, to convey confidence in addressing a highly volatile and fundamentally uncertain future would be inauthentic, and likely to be seen as such.—
Paul Laudicina,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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Alhurra is subject to the same forces afflicting all TV networks, with audiences increasingly finding their news on TikTok and YouTube.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2025
Verb
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Luckily, my dog doesn’t bother the plants—except the ones in the garden—but this plant stand gives me peace of mind anyway.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 May 2025
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Travel delays don’t bother Blues The Blues got stuck in Winnipeg after Game 5 due to an issue with the plane that was bringing them back to St. Louis.—
Jeremy Rutherford,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
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He was allegedly held in a clandestine detention site and tortured by intelligence agents.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2025
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If Episode 2 was the depiction of fire and uncontrollable rage — with Tommy flaming down an unrelenting monster known as a bloater, and Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) torturing and killing Joel — Episode 3 is the opposite.—
Maira Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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These ingredients can irritate the digestive tract, the bladder, or the teeth for people who are sensitive to them.—
Stacey Colino,
Time,
1 May 2025
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Chronic inflammation has been shown to irritate blood vessels and can lead to the hardening of fatty plaques in the lining of the arteries, which reduces blood flow to the heart.—
Liz Szabo,
Scientific American,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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When Colorado was besieged by injuries or poor goaltending earlier this season, there were nights when a B or B-minus performance was going to be a loss, even against teams that aren’t very good.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2025
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And while politicians know that there are costs to besieging an independent central bank – financial markets may react negatively or inflation may flare up – short-term control of a powerful policy tool can prove irresistible.—
Ana Carolina Garriga,
The Conversation,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, Curry is 37 and played Sunday with his right thumb wrapped in athletic tape, nursing an ailment that has bugged him all season.—
Evan Webeck,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2025
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And for me, nothing bugs me more than engaging in social activities to check the box rather than making meaningful connections.—
Time,
Time,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Persecute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecute. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
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