1
as in torturer
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another
years later his schoolyard persecutor would end up being one of his low-paid employees
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nuisance
one who is obnoxiously annoying
on this flight my airline-appointed persecutor was a chattering nitwit who could not stop talking about himself
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Recent Examples of persecutor
Third-graders would learn about the Road to Damascus, which tells the story of Paul’s transformation from an early persecutor of Christians into a follower.
—
Heather Hollingsworth, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Third graders would learn about the Road to Damascus, which tells the story of Paul's transformation from an early persecutor of Christians into a follower.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Third graders would learn about the Road to Damascus, which tells the story of Paul's transformation from an early persecutor of Christians into a follower.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Paul was a former persecutor of Christians who became a missionary and was later beheaded in Rome.
—Lori A Bashian , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 23 Nov. 2025
Amish are part of the wider Anabaptist movement, which puts heavy emphasis on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, containing some of his most radical and counter-cultural sayings — to love enemies, live simply, bless persecutors, turn the other cheek and to endure sufferings joyfully.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
The grounds once housed the elaborate palace of first century Roman Emperor Domitian, a persecutor of Christians.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
That is a nasty process which involves digging up Ambar’s still-fresh corpse, then subjecting it to various grisly indignities night after night as retribution gets visited upon our heroine’s persecutors.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 6 Aug. 2025
Using it to describe this week’s attack on Huwara – or other similar attacks in Israel or Palestine – effectively puts Israel in the place of the Jews’ historic persecutors.
—Joshua Shanes, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2023
Heather Hollingsworth, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Third graders would learn about the Road to Damascus, which tells the story of Paul's transformation from an early persecutor of Christians into a follower.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Third graders would learn about the Road to Damascus, which tells the story of Paul's transformation from an early persecutor of Christians into a follower.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Paul was a former persecutor of Christians who became a missionary and was later beheaded in Rome.
—Lori A Bashian , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 23 Nov. 2025
Amish are part of the wider Anabaptist movement, which puts heavy emphasis on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, containing some of his most radical and counter-cultural sayings — to love enemies, live simply, bless persecutors, turn the other cheek and to endure sufferings joyfully.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
The grounds once housed the elaborate palace of first century Roman Emperor Domitian, a persecutor of Christians.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
That is a nasty process which involves digging up Ambar’s still-fresh corpse, then subjecting it to various grisly indignities night after night as retribution gets visited upon our heroine’s persecutors.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 6 Aug. 2025
Using it to describe this week’s attack on Huwara – or other similar attacks in Israel or Palestine – effectively puts Israel in the place of the Jews’ historic persecutors.
—Joshua Shanes, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecutor
Noun
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Incredibly, one of Schiller's torturers, Jorge Delgado - the Sun Gym member who had first told Lugo about Schiller and his millions - ended up helping the federal government make their case.—
Troy Roberts,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
His torturers shattered his hands and paraded him around the stadium, taunting him to try to play his guitar.—
Christina Hioureas,
Rolling Stone,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Reasons to Grow Moss in Your Garden Some gardeners consider moss a nuisance to be eradicated from their yards.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Two days later, legislators took up the Public Nuisance Reform Act, which proposes narrowing the definition of what could be considered a nuisance.—
Abrahm Lustgarten,
ProPublica,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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These teases run counter to the messaging Grande has been putting out since last year about not doing another album anytime soon.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
9 Apr. 2026
-
As Shrinking season three comes to a close, the cast and creatives behind the hit Apple TV comedy united at PaleyFest LA to celebrate the finale and give a tease as to what’s coming next.—
Alex Cramer,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Of course, that conservative approach is often wrecked by QB harassers such as Lawrence and Williams, part of a defense that ranked seventh in the NFL in sacks.—
Eric Branch,
San Francisco Chronicle,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Instead, the lawsuit argued, law enforcement in the area where the harasser lived should have served the papers.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
To be sure, there can be annoyances.—
Jennifer Ludden,
NPR,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Chronic snoring goes beyond annoyance.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Webb and San Francisco’s pitching staff will have to figure out how to slow down Linden’s Judge, the former Giants fan turned current Giants tormentor.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
22 Mar. 2026
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My tormentor bolted, leaving me behind—bloody, battered, and confused.—
Katie Jackson,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This can be a contaminating breeding ground if there were to be leaks that damage packaging, or an invitation for pests to munch on your items before you.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
12 Apr. 2026
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One garden pest who can’t handle copper pennies?—
Alexandra Kelly,
Martha Stewart,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The podcast is a fascinating artifact, the tale of a woman still untangling her role as both victim and victimizer.—
Jillian Steinhauer,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
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Even if online shaming continues, this accountability will make sure that the victimizer will face social consequences as well.—
Eli Thompson,
Rolling Stone,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Persecutor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecutor. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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