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
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For a league still trying to grow its footprint, treating media availability like a nuisance is a curious growth strategy.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
The second phase of the proceedings, known as a juryless bench trial, will establish over a three-week period if Meta’s actions created a public nuisance, thus warranting potential product changes.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
The ending with Raiden and the others is all fans get in terms of a tease for a sequel.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
-
So that tease at the end has seeds for acres and acres of stories.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
On May 8, the alleged harasser, Alex Jenkinson, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court via live link and was ordered to stay away from several royal residences.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Some attendees, caught between shock and annoyance, make comments and ask questions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
-
Holes in your favorite shirts or shorts are more than annoyances.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Pedro Báez joined the Los Angeles pen in 2014 and assumed the role of Goldschmidt’s primary tormentor.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
Brendan Carr, tormenter in chief of the broadcast networks, made his way around the room, as did Lachlan Murdoch, the CEO of Fox Corporation.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Instead, farmers employ integrated pest management techniques such as building traps used to catch borers that eat coffee berries.—
Sheryl De Vore,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
-
Considered a healthy and colorful alternative to kale or spinach (and resistant to most pests), Swiss chard can be enjoyed in various ways.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Anyone who thinks the only alternative to being a victim is to be a victimizer is missing some important possibilities.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 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 May. 2026.
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