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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of persecutor
Shakespeare humanizes the Elizabethan stage stereotype of the villainous Jew by giving Shylock ample reason for wanting to get back at his Christian persecutors.
—
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 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
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 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
-
Mahmoudian decided to help his torturer.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The film, which looks at a former political prisoner who considers violent revenge against his prison torturer, was co-written by Panahi, Mahmoudian, Nader Saeiver and Shadhmer Rastin.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Like the dead leaves piling up on the driveway, Darryl is often unlikeable, or seen as simply a nuisance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The lawsuit accused Sacramento of creating a public nuisance and violating a Fish and Game Code section prohibiting polluting California’s waters.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The fact that a major publishing announcement (or at least a tease of one) is being made on a mainstream entertainment podcast rather than through a traditional book-industry channel speaks to how pop culture and publishing are increasingly intertwined.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Mar. 2026
-
As for which Bridgerton sibling takes the spotlight next, Brownell offered a tease.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Moreover, when harassers disproportionately target women, people of color and LGBTQ officials, entire communities are systematically excluded from participation in self-governance.—
Ernestine Nettles,
Mercury News,
22 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
One of the great delights, but also slight annoyances of doing a show as popular as American Psycho, [is] that family, friends, everyone wants to see it.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Cue more annoyance among the home fans.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Our tormentor is angry the state chose Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 and has not met his demands to stop mail-in voting and release his supporter and fellow election denier Tina Peters from prison.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Gisèle Pelicot divorced her tormentor when the abuse came to light in 2020.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Wounds caused by lawn maintenance equipment invite diseases and pests that can eventually kill the dogwood.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The screen installed on the door was not properly constructed to prevent pest entry, as the mesh openings were excessively large.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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 15 Mar. 2026.
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