as in harassment
something that causes mental distress
The media's constant persecution was beginning to affect their lives.
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Recent Examples of persecution
Many of these Catholic newcomers, fleeing famine and persecution, were disparaged as poor, illiterate and superstitious.
—
Matthew Smith, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
Other ancestors had fled aboard the Mayflower from the persecution of Puritans in England, aboard a steamship from pogroms in Ukraine, aboard a schooner from Spanish repression in Cuba.
—Yoni Appelbaum, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026
The Franz Koenigs collection, including works by Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt, Vincent van Gogh, and others, has been the subject of multiple claims over the years that it was sold under duress due to Nazi persecution.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 2 June 2026
In this perilous post-republic period of political persecution and violence, the chances are simply too high that the next elect this year will soon become governor.
—Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for persecution
Matthew Smith, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
Other ancestors had fled aboard the Mayflower from the persecution of Puritans in England, aboard a steamship from pogroms in Ukraine, aboard a schooner from Spanish repression in Cuba.
—Yoni Appelbaum, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026
The Franz Koenigs collection, including works by Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt, Vincent van Gogh, and others, has been the subject of multiple claims over the years that it was sold under duress due to Nazi persecution.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 2 June 2026
In this perilous post-republic period of political persecution and violence, the chances are simply too high that the next elect this year will soon become governor.
—Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for persecution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecution
Noun
-
Two children at a Redlands elementary school faced racial harassment, discrimination and teasing for months, resulting in them being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, their mother alleged in a lawsuit filed against the school district.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
-
The Big 12 cites cases where government threats of retaliation, including prosecution and legal harassment, constitute an infringement of the freedom of association.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
And public anger grew after video showed an activist being dragged by a private security guard while demonstrating at the site.—
Zana Cimili,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
-
Just the pure, raw anger out of AJ McCarron here is second to none.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
The formula doesn’t leave any burning, itching, or irritation in its wake.—
Cheryl Fenton,
Parents,
14 June 2026
-
Start low, go slow, buffer over moisturizer to reduce irritation.—
Allison Palmer
Updated June 13,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Persecution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecution. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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