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persecutor

noun

Definition of persecutornext
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

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 persecutor Are prisoners in Nazi concentration camps not the legal owners of artworks they were forced to make by their SS persecutors? — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026 Honoring the undocumented and decrying their persecutors at the height of her career, against political headwinds and with nothing to gain and everything to lose, was par for her life, and a challenge for all of us to do the same. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The Bible relates the remarkable transformation of Saul of Tarsus – at one time a violent persecutor of Christians – who became a powerful teacher-by-example of love and peace. — Margaret Rogers, Christian Science Monitor, 29 July 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecutor
  1. torturer
  2. nuisance
  3. tease
  4. annoyance
  5. harasser
  6. pest
  7. tormentor
  8. victimizer
Noun
  • Red is immediately abducted, cut open in an ambulance, and injected with pain-magnifying drugs by his torturers, while Liz accidentally murders the mysterious man surveilling her next door.
    — EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
  • Aaron escapes his torturers, first by rooting himself in the town’s only movie theater open to Black people, and then by lying about his age and enlisting in the Navy at 16.
    — Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Definition of torturer
Noun
  • Take some time to seal gaps in window and door frames with weatherproof caulk to prevent fall stink bug problems, along with roaches, boxelder bugs, cluster flies, and other nuisances.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Those feedings typically run afoul of associations’ governing documents and their rules and regulations due to the potential nuisances, unsanitary conditions, property damage, and liabilities that feral cats and other animals can create.
    — Michael L. Hyman, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of nuisance
Noun
  • The final exchange is honestly the strangest and teases what’s in store for this week’s SNL episode.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
  • After its pilot tease, Lanterns finally moves into 2026, while staying tethered to some part of its Manhunter mystery.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of tease
Noun
  • While some experts cite the threat of civilian drones being equipped to deliver explosives or chemical or biological agents, authorities and defense executives say the more common risk is annoyance and interruption.
    — Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2026
  • For the majority of those living away from the coast, say west of I-95, this will not be a memorable storm but more of an annoyance.
    — Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of annoyance
Noun
  • Parton’s ability to become the harasser without falling into some version of male drag makes this short sequence far superior to the many films with a similar premise that followed.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • White stars can help by publicly supporting their Black colleagues, who are especially targeted by online trolls and harassers.
    — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of harasser
Noun
  • The plant is not prone to problems with pests or diseases, and the basal foliage should remain fresh until spring.
    — Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Today, there are around 350 adult black robins living on two pest-free nature reserve islands, a recovery that helped put New Zealand conservation efforts on the international map.
    — Adam Pourahmadi, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of pest
Noun
  • So her lighthearted moment with her former tormentor was noteworthy, and not lost on Negan.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 27 July 2026
  • Lionel Messi is an all-timer (not to mention a frequent Atlanta United tormentor) and, at 39 years old, this may be his last World Cup.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of tormentor
Noun
  • My office will hold their victimizer fully accountable for her inhumane actions.
    — Eric Mack, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Jarrett, the elder brother, was eventually taken in by a man who later abused him, a victimizer who then set his sights on Baylon.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of victimizer

Browse Nearby Words

persecutive
persecutor
persecutors
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Cite this Entry

“Persecutor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecutor. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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