persecute

verb
UK: /ˈpɜːsɪkjuːt/
US: /ˈpɜːrsɪkjuːt/

  1. To treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or beliefs.

    1. They persecute people of other religions.
    2. Throughout history, many religious groups have faced persecution for their beliefs, leading some to persecute others later.

  2. To annoy someone constantly or cause them problems.

    1. The media like to persecute famous people.
    2. He felt persecuted by his boss's constant criticism, which made him consider leaving the company.

Synonyms

oppress torment harass hound abuse maltreat

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "persecute" in English means: To treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or beliefs., To annoy someone constantly or cause them problems..

The phonetic transcription of "persecute" is /ˈpɜːsɪkjuːt/ in British English and /ˈpɜːrsɪkjuːt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "persecute": oppress, torment, harass, hound, abuse, maltreat.

Example usage of "persecute": "They persecute people of other religions.". More examples on the page.