persecute
verb
transitive verb
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Prosecute vs. Persecute
Take care to distinguish between prosecuted and persecuted, although we sincerely hope that neither word applies to you. Persecute typically has a small range of meanings, such as “to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict.” Although the word is occasionally found in dialectal use to mean “prosecute,” many usage guides consider this to be an error. Prosecute is generally found today in a legal context (“to bring legal action against for redress or punishment of a crime or violation of law”), although the word may also be used to mean “to follow to the end” or “to engage in.” If someone is prosecuted they are being tried in a court of law; if they are persecuted they are being targeted and harassed.
Synonyms
- afflict
- agonize
- anguish
- bedevil
- beset
- besiege
- curse
- excruciate
- harrow
- plague
- rack
- torment
- torture
Example Sentences
Anh Dostaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2022 But over the years the government continued to persecute religious minorities and political dissenters and isolate itself internationally, and opportunities withered for many Iranians regardless of religion. Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2022 All three countries use a patchwork of laws—often involving vague definitions of morality or debauchery—to persecute LGBTQ people. Matt Burgess, Wired, 7 Mar. 2022 Their departure accelerates a long-running process of shutting down Russia’s civil society, without the state having to persecute and imprison people individually. Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2022 China also employs diplomatic pressure and financial incentives to secure foreign assistance in its efforts to persecute Uighurs abroad. John Beck, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Mar. 2022 While offering design inspiration, the papacy’s alliance with France to persecute the Templars also presented an allegory. Fawnia Soo Hoo, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2022 Increasingly, countries that persecute LGBTQ communities are altering their legal approaches to cases. Matt Burgess, Wired, 7 Mar. 2022 Worst of all, the bill would make the Federal Trade Commission a superagency by expanding its budget by $300 million along with the almost unlimited power to persecute American business with its vast menu of potential offenses. Robert H. Bork Jr., WSJ, 26 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Middle English, from Middle French persecuter, back-formation from persecuteur persecutor, from Late Latin persecutor, from persequi to persecute, from Latin, to pursue, from per- through + sequi to follow — more at sue
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
persecute
verb
persecute
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- plague
- afflict
- torture
- besiege
- attack
- torment
- curse
- bother
- beset
- bedevil
- anguish
- agonize
- harass
- trouble
- oppress
- harrow
- sting
- rack
- pursue
- excruciate
- annoy
- assail
- disturb
- molest
- strike
- victimize
- irritate
- overwhelm
- aggravate
- badger
- hound
- hurt
- harry
- vex
- try
- grieve
- exasperate
- smite
- agitate
- rile
- pester
- tyrannize
- distress
- dog
- irk
- worry
- upset
- stab
- perturb
- overpower
- ride
- gall
- discomfort
- crush
- pain
- chafe
- disquiet
- put out
- pique
- gripe
- peeve
- discompose
- martyr
- fluster
- grate
- bug
- nettle
- stress
- prick
- smart
- strain
- rasp
- wring
- get
- pang
- hagride
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- help
- assist
- aid
- relieve
- abet
- deliver
- release
- soothe
- comfort
- quiet
- content
- succor
- console
- reprieve
- solace
Synonyms & Similar Words
- annoy
- bother
- irritate
- bug
- aggravate
- get
- eat
- spite
- infuriate
- exasperate
- vex
- anger
- rile
- irk
- harass
- provoke
- insult
- gall
- wear on
- get to
- plague
- grate
- worry
- tease
- itch
- frost
- chafe
- put out
- pique
- offend
- peeve
- gripe
- ruffle
- nark
- nettle
- rasp
- enrage
- rub the wrong way
- burn (up)
- heckle
- hack (off)
- stick in one's craw
- rouse
- antagonize
- upset
- devil
- badger
- inflame
- get on one's nerves
- nag
- harry
- get one's goat
- set one's teeth on edge
- agitate
- unsettle
- pester
- outrage
- bait
- hassle
- enflame
- perturb
- distress
- affront
- incense
- rankle
- discomfort
- exercise
- madden
- disquiet
- roil
- undo
- unhinge
- bullyrag
- ballyrag
- miff
- discompose
- hagride
- fret
- freak (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- appease
- conciliate
- placate
- oblige
- pacify
- please
- gratify
- satisfy
- propitiate
- mollify
- delight
- assure
- reassure
- cheer
- soothe
- comfort
- content
- gladden
- quiet
- console
- solace
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of persecute are aggrieve, oppress, and wrong. While all these words mean "to injure unjustly or outrageously," persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering.
Although the words aggrieve and persecute have much in common, aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights.
The meanings of oppress and persecute largely overlap; however, oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform.
The synonyms wrong and persecute are sometimes interchangeable, but wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves.