1
as in tormenters
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nuisances
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 persecutors
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
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 persecutors
Noun
-
But according to Aaron Shmulewitz, a real-estate lawyer, the process for dealing with a repeat window flasher in your co-op isn’t all that different from other nuisances like someone across the hall blasting metal music at midnight.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Each regime, from the Pahlavi dynasty to the Islamic Republic, claimed to uphold human rights and castigated its predecessors as torturers, only to ratchet up the incarceration of political opponents.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Brown-Trickey was eventually suspended for standing up to her tormentors, while her white aggressors went unpunished.—
Time,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This provides extra protection against mosquitoes, flies, and other pests without the need to coat yourself in bug spray from head to toe.—
Anne Taylor,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Remove wood piles and clutter, seal cracks and leaks, and keep your floors, counters, and appliances clean to prevent pests from entering.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Minor annoyances suddenly widen into a chasm neither can cross.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Overgrown weeds, overhanging branches, litter, loud noises — all of these annoyances might come from your Milwaukee neighbor, but not every complaint should go to the same place.—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Typically said when someone copies a trend, latches onto a friend's obsession, or just teases in a playful way.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The teases of matches with Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes had fans excited for another in-ring run.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Arsenal are missing some instinctive understanding between their attackers, who are still getting used to the intricacies of one another’s styles.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Butler documented the moment that the group of attackers, which appeared to include a woman holding a baby, ran out of the store.—
Michael Nied,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Persecutors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecutors. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share