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View synonyms for

persecute

[ pur-si-kyoot ]

verb (used with object)

persecuted, persecuting.
  1. to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, especially because of religious or political beliefs, ethnic or racial origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

    Synonyms: , ,

  2. to annoy or trouble persistently.

    Synonyms: , , , ,



persecute

/ ˈɜːɪˌː /

verb

  1. to oppress, harass, or maltreat, esp because of race, religion, etc
  2. to bother persistently
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈˌܳٴǰ, noun
  • ˈˌܳپ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • ··ܳ·Բ· adverb
  • ···پ adjective
  • ···پ·ness noun
  • ···ٴǰ noun
  • ···ٴ· [pur, -si-kyoo-t, uh, -ree, -ky, uh, -tawr-ee], adjective
  • ԴDz···ܳ·Բ adjective
  • non····پ adjective
  • non····ٴ· adjective
  • ····ܳٱ verb (used with object) overpersecuted overpersecuting
  • ܲ···ܳ·Բ adjective
  • un····پ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of persecute1

First recorded in 1400–50; Late Middle English; back formation from persecutour “persecutor,” ultimately from Late Latin ūٴǰ originally “prosecutor,” equivalent to ū-, variant stem of ī “to prosecute, pursue closely” + -tor; per-, sequence, -tor
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Word History and Origins

Origin of persecute1

C15: from Old French persecuter, back formation from persecuteur, from Late Latin ūٴǰ pursuer, from ī to take vengeance upon
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Thought to be of Berber origin, Pope Victor I was in charge of the Catholic Church at a time when Christians were sometimes being persecuted by Roman officials for refusing to worship Roman gods.

From

"It is another attempt to politicise and abuse the legal process in order to persecute Israel," he said.

From

There, the group reportedly said onstage that “the Irish are not so longer persecuted under the Brits, but we were never bombed under the f— skies with nowhere to go.”

From

Easter is supposed to be a happy time, but all I can think of is the people who persecuted Jesus.

From

The United States used to be the kind of country that welcomed the persecuted, but I guess she didn’t see us as the best option.

From

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