persecute
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.
Examples of persecute in a Sentence
Anastasiya Zavyalova, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025
Again, none of these Beautiful People ever thought of assisting Americans who were being persecuted by the Deep State these last few years before Jan. 20.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2025
Texas has spearheaded several efforts to persecute transgender people, which have then been copied in other states.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
In 2022, Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, issued a formal apology to the Scots who were persecuted under the law.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for persecute
Cite this Entry
“Persecute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persecute. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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persecute
verb
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