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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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
-
In the whole film, every character is talking about this one person [their torturer], who is absent.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Jan. 2026
-
As my experience showed, a heavy reliance on physical abuse makes for proficient torturers, not skilled interrogators.—
Elizabeth Tsurkov,
The Atlantic,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
If fruit flies are a minor nuisance, BHG home pros recommend these strategies to get rid of fruit flies.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Jan. 2026
-
As a recent Forbes Finance Council analysis argues, regulation is not a nuisance to be worked around but a moat to be built—one that rewards fintechs willing to trade short-term speed for long-term trust and defensibility.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The first tease from the film touches on that issue, with the help of photos.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The vehicle, as tends to be the case with teases like this, is covered in a camouflage wrap, its still possible to make out some intriguing details.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
27 Jan. 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
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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
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Apple has been working to eliminate the inner screen’s visible crease, a longtime annoyance of the category.—
Chris Welch,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
-
That said, your annoyance is also valid.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And her tormentors are all abruptly, painfully departing the scene or, at the very least, becoming ensnared in one humiliation after another.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Jeffrey Tambor is the corrupt Mayor of Whoville and the Grinch’s lifelong tormenter, Augustus May Who, who sets his hatred of Christmas in motion.—
Danny Horn,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Its gritty texture helps repel pests like slugs and snails from your garden.—
Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano,
The Spruce,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Clean Up Indoor Clutter Removing clutter is essential for successful at-home pest and rodent control.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
25 Jan. 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 2 Feb. 2026.
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