1
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to
people who were persecuted simply for practicing their religious faith
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
she likes to persecute her sister with pointless, annoying questions at very inopportune times
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of persecute
Miller wrote the play as an allegory for McCarthyism, when the U.S. government persecuted people of being communists.
—
Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Alawites have become a community besieged, set to be excluded — if not persecuted — by the Sunni political class now in ascendance.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
After the war broke out, Lina insisted on helping shield the persecuted – Jews and Roma, among them – at great risk.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2025
According to court records, two plaintiffs fled Afghanistan due to fears that the Taliban might persecute them over their support for the United States.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for persecute
Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Alawites have become a community besieged, set to be excluded — if not persecuted — by the Sunni political class now in ascendance.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
After the war broke out, Lina insisted on helping shield the persecuted – Jews and Roma, among them – at great risk.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2025
According to court records, two plaintiffs fled Afghanistan due to fears that the Taliban might persecute them over their support for the United States.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for persecute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecute
Verb
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Relying heavily on retrospective interviews and self-reporting, these approaches, still widely used in marketing and management, are plagued by recall bias and rationalization.—
Benjamin Voyer,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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Now comes a lengthy report published by the Independent Rikers Commission that states the obvious: the offshore complex, plagued by violence and apathy to the level of unconstitutionality, will not close by the date set six years ago by the City Council.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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With Connecticut facing the possibility of exceeding the cap by $61 million, Lamont is reining in spending, annoying some liberal Democrats who note that the state is simultaneously looking at a budget surplus.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2025
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Also keeping with that theme are tons of Marvel references to the point that Mara (who starred in 2015’s Fantastic Four) was likely getting annoyed.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In ways both provocative and beautiful, Faustine’s photography explored conditions afflicting Black women across time.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
21 Mar. 2025
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Most of the United States’ Northeastern states would be among the more afflicted, as would be the Great Lakes region.—
Katharina Buchholz,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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By the end of the day, my T-zone had turned a little bit oily, but honestly, not enough to bother me.—
Denise Primbet,
Glamour,
16 Mar. 2025
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The First Amendment’s free speech protection is under siege by the Trump administration and that should bother every American, including Republicans.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Reyes Barrios, who marched in protests against the Maduro regime in February and March 2024, had been tortured by government officials.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA TODAY,
21 Mar. 2025
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Maybe the two of them are held prisoner down there for a while, being tortured by Milchick (or whomever is brought in to replace him after two separate catastrophes have happened under his watch).—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Salt grains may be irritating, especially for people with sensitive skin types.—
Susan Bard,
Health,
18 Mar. 2025
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In addition to the on-again, off-again tariffs and the militarization of the border, Trump has irritated Mexico by renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In recent days, Tesla showrooms in the U.S. have been besieged by protesters and vehicles vandalized on the street.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
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At the start of the invasion, Russian troops besieged the city, forcing residents to endure harsh winter conditions without electricity or water under constant shelling from Russian artillery, missiles and drones.—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Ferrell bugs his eyes out and sighs a series of increasingly desperate spit-takes, but this project was probably doomed from the get-go.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2025
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The movie's famous final scene sees Hackman's character playing the saxophone after his paranoia has led him to destroy his entire apartment to see if it was bugged.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA TODAY,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Persecute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecute. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
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