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
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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
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
Verb
-
For many years, both NASA and its Russian counterpart Roscosmos have struggled to contain persistent leaks plaguing the International Space Station.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
18 June 2026
-
His £55million move to Newcastle from Brentford last summer has proven disastrous so far, with injuries plaguing him and only three goals all season.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Instead, the reviews were largely muted, with analysts not bothering to adjust their revenue estimates for 2027 or 2028, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
-
That appears to be bothering people, as the broadcast noted some pointed conversations among the Spanish team during the hydration break.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Cholera, a waterborne bacterial disease, has unleashed a perilous wave across southern Africa, with active outbreaks currently afflicting five countries in southern and central Africa.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Never mind the economic turbulence afflicting the country and the world, driven most recently by rising gas prices because of the war in Iran.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Weird; annoying even – but the floaters did not seem urgent.—
Peter Ubel,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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My biggest concern about adding a tracking device around Mya’s neck was annoying her or creating disruption.—
Tyler Hayes,
PC Magazine,
13 May 2026
Verb
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In fact, the disease has been torturing humans for at least 5,500 years, according to a study published today in the journal Nature .—
Margherita Bassi,
Popular Science,
17 June 2026
-
Meanwhile, Harris welcomed her endorsement by Dick Cheney, who was not a very popular vice president but was a zealous defender of torturing Muslims.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
Verb
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The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
12 June 2026
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His doctor had been bugging him for years to get a colonoscopy because of his age, but Driggers declined.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
Verb
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After the good Samaritan got him off the woman, witnesses say the man wandered to produce and began attacking a 16-year-old boy, but Garbe had followed him.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
After coming close on numerous attacking opportunities in the first, the Real Madrid star put England ahead for the good in the opening moments of the second.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
This behavior isn’t just irritating or upsetting.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
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How to avoid chiggers Aside from the potential risk of anaphylactic allergy and severe illness, chiggers are, well, irritating.—
Eva Flowe
June 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Persecuting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecuting. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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