persecuting

verb

present participle of persecute
1
as in plaguing
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 bothering
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

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 persecuting Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people. — New York Times, 11 June 2026 Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally. — Isaac Butler, New Yorker, 30 May 2026 Behind the story One of the really big stories on my beat covering China for the last decade has been Beijing's intensive ramp-up in detaining and persecuting Uyghurs, a primarily Muslim ethnic minority. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 26 May 2026 The South African government has denied persecuting the ethnic minority, composed of descendants of European settlers, mostly from the Netherlands. — Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 19 May 2026 Saddam towered over Iraq’s political regime for nearly 30 years, plunging the country into multiple destructive wars, persecuting his own citizens and inflicting widespread trauma and suffering. — David Faris, TheWeek, 24 Apr. 2026 The order also accused the Cuban government of persecuting political opponents, suppressing free speech and the press, and committing other human rights violations—actions that have been documented by human rights organizations over the years. — Chad De Guzman, Time, 17 Mar. 2026 The term refers to biblical passages in which Jesus described Jews in specific communities who were persecuting the early Christians. — Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 4 Feb. 2026 Troops are occupying our cities and persecuting our people. — Maria Guinnip, Oklahoman, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecuting
  1. plaguing
  2. bothering
  3. afflicting
  4. annoying
  5. torturing
  6. bugging
  7. attacking
  8. irritating
Verb
  • This is the growth paradox plaguing America’s most innovative companies.
    — Chris Hale, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • No, this did not come from the athletic department, but the school itself, which put an even bigger spotlight on the problems currently plaguing the Tar Heels football program.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of plaguing
Verb
  • The one issue that is bothering me at or just before launch is the CPU's Wear and Tear management.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The arnica in this gel can help treat sore muscles, aches, swelling, or other pains that are bothering you, too.
    — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of bothering
Verb
  • That constraint contributes to the housing crises afflicting these seasonal recreation areas.
    — Nancy Forster-Holt, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Health advocates consider an official definition of ultraprocessed food a key step toward bringing greater scrutiny to meals that are blamed for multiple chronic health problems afflicting Americans.
    — Matthew Perrone, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of afflicting
Verb
  • Kids in all three countries loved learning dances from TikTok and annoying their siblings.
    — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Of course, this would depend on whether the managers choose to pick their strongest teams in what for some is a meaningless, even annoying extra fixture, for squads who just want to go home.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Definition of annoying
Verb
  • Arabella’s adoptive mother, Leticia McCormack, and her parents, Adella and Stanley Tom, were arrested three months later and accused of torturing the young girl to death.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Working off a few vague details, Bret begins to imagine a link between Robert and a serial killer known as the Trawler, who has been abducting and torturing young women around Los Angeles.
    — Leo Lasdun, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of torturing
Verb
  • However, in-flight cabin etiquette is only one part of what’s bugging travelers this summer.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
Definition of bugging
Verb
  • So too are there similarities to the Brentford side that came up under Thomas Frank, given their set-piece credentials and attacking variety.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Fishback has been aggressively attacking Donalds over his politics and his race while holding rallies across the state drawing crowds of young men motivated by his hard-right campaign promises.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of attacking
Verb
  • Unfortunately, many parachute nylon sand-proof beach towels have a flat, rough texture that some consumers find uncomfortable or irritating.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Aspell, the deputy executive officer, acknowledged that the lung-irritating chemical continues to be a concern.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritating

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Cite this Entry

“Persecuting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecuting. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of persecuting for Spanish Speakers

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