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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of persecute
Crypto is no exception, and already a business that felt persecuted under President Joe Biden has had to temper its expectations for progress under Trump.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Other entries discuss feeling ostracized and persecuted by the Oregon community.
—Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025
At least two of them fled Venezuela in part because Tren de Aragua was persecuting them, according to the lawsuit.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2025
Yoon’s conservative supporters have latched on to his arguments as well as his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud, strongly echoing the dynamic between President Donald Trump and supporters who say he has been wrongly persecuted by a corrupt judicial system.
—Beomsu Jo, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for persecute
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Other entries discuss feeling ostracized and persecuted by the Oregon community.
—Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025
At least two of them fled Venezuela in part because Tren de Aragua was persecuting them, according to the lawsuit.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2025
Yoon’s conservative supporters have latched on to his arguments as well as his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud, strongly echoing the dynamic between President Donald Trump and supporters who say he has been wrongly persecuted by a corrupt judicial system.
—Beomsu Jo, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for persecute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecute
Verb
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The community support comes at an apartment complex that both residents say is plagued with drugs and violence.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2025
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The firm works heavily with the community surrounding the market and carries a mission to identify and establish alternatives to the pitfalls plaguing fashion’s current business model including overproduction and greenwashing.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Waltz now has a bunch of top officials, and their teams, who are annoyed at him for drawing bad publicity.—
Marc Caputo,
Axios,
25 Mar. 2025
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However, standing in the middle of a road to capture the Eiffel Tower in the background is not only unsafe but can also annoy locals.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In the first trailer for Universal’s live-action reimagining of Dreamworks’ 2010 film How to Train Your Dragon, there’s no hint that the CGI is going in the gritty, overly lifelike direction that has afflicted other live-action remakes of years past.—
Michael Savio,
Vulture,
3 Apr. 2025
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In a state and city so afflicted by the culture of corruption, as the Tribune reported exhaustively last year in a series of pieces tracing our sordid history, federal prosecutors have played an indispensable role in unearthing these stories and making our politicians pay for abusing their offices.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Because Congress never bothered to write a law to establish it.—
Jay Cost,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
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Chicago Bears - Will Campbell, OL, LSU Will Campbell has fallen a bit due to his shorter arm length, but that likely won't bother Ben Johnson.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The six defendants allegedly began holding a man against his will on March 14 and proceeded to torture him at a Red Roof Inn in Maumee, Ohio, according to an arrest warrant.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2025
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He was detained, tortured with electric shock shock and suffocation.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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If not properly diluted, vinegar's acidity can irritate your throat or erode tooth enamel over time.—
Johna Burdeos,
Health,
7 Apr. 2025
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The second walk irritated the pitcher, as home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman’s ball four call on a 3-2 count appeared incorrect.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Their Big Three of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George were besieged by injuries, which limited them to only 294 minutes together all year.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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But he has been besieged by injuries and no longer appears on The Athletic’s list of the Giants’ top 20 prospects or MLB.com’s list of their top 30.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Ema then asks the question that’s been bugging her—why hasn’t Leo’s body been found?—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Persecute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecute. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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