as in frightening
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Recent Examples of persecutory
For example, Americans living during World War II developed persecutory delusions involving Germans, while those living during the Cold War focused on communists.
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Alaina Vandervoort Burns, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
Alaina Vandervoort Burns, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecutory
Adjective
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Experts immediately pointed out that Hassett had used a misleading method known as a cubic fit to make the mortality data appear less frightening.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
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When the sun went down, the Santa Anas began to blow, and the fire shifted into the familiar, frightening rhythm of inevitability.—
Jonathan Taplin,
Rolling Stone,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The first complaint, in which a clerk made similar accusations of abusive and harassing conduct, was filed with the circuit court in 2022, not long after Merriam’s appointment.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
1 Jan. 2026
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The line is crossed when someone’s conduct at work becomes disrespectful, harassing, intimidating, discriminatory, or disruptive to the team.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The Kurds became even more fearful of losing their rights after government forces massacred minority Alawites and Druze in fighting throughout 2025.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
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Abbie was cold and very fearful when the officers found her, and she was later found to have suffered a hip injury that will require surgery, police and rescuers said.—
Bruce Shipkowski,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Humans could suddenly step into a box, perhaps hear gears grind, and then exit the box on a different floor—and even as safety features were innovated, that was terrifying.—
Jason Corso,
Fortune,
6 Jan. 2026
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Madigan's character, the elderly aunt of several of the students, became a cult favorite, both terrifying and delighting audiences.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Threatening retirees’ ranks and pensions, which took a lifetime to earn, has a chilling effect.—
Michael Szalma,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
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However, apple trees require proper chilling hours to break dormancy and produce fruit.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The only thing scarier to horror fans might just be Amy Madigan losing for Weapons.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
8 Jan. 2026
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Families will love Hiccup’s Wing Gliders in the Isle of Berk, a not-too-scary coaster that still delivers thrills.—
Josh Roberts,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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On platforms such as Hulu, HBO Max, Snapchat, Spotify, and YouTube, pre-roll and automated ads have begun popping up with alarming frequency.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
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If this were training camp, the influx of linebackers would not be as alarming.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Are there horrible smells wafting around?—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
7 Jan. 2026
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Jimmy Kimmel was horrible, and some of these people.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Persecutory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecutory. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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