'Persecute' definitions:
Definition of 'persecute'
From: WordNet
verb
Cause to suffer; "Jews were persecuted in the former Soviet Union" [syn: persecute, oppress]
Definition of 'Persecute'
From: GCIDE
- Persecute \Per"se*cute\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Persecuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Persecuting.] [F. pers['e]cueter, L. persequi, persecutus, to pursue, prosecute; per + sequi to follow, pursue. See Per-, and Second.]
- 1. To pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict; to beset with cruelty or malignity; to harass; especially, to afflict, harass, punish, or put to death, for adherence to a particular religious creed or mode of worship. [1913 Webster]
- Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. --Matt. v. 44. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: To oppress; harass; distress; worry; annoy. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'persecute'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abuse,
- afflict,
- aggravate,
- aggrieve,
- annoy,
- badger,
- bait,
- be at,
- bedevil,
- befoul,
- beset,
- bewitch,
- blight,
- bother,
- bristle,
- brown off,
- bug,
- bully,
- bullyrag,
- burn up,
- chivy,
- condemn,
- corrupt,
- crucify,
- curse,
- damage,
- defile,
- deprave,
- despoil,
- destroy,
- devil,
- disadvantage,
- discompose,
- disserve,
- distemper,
- distress,
- disturb,
- do a mischief,
- do evil,
- do ill,
- do wrong,
- do wrong by,
- dog,
- doom,
- dragoon,
- envenom,
- exasperate,
- exercise,
- fash,
- fret,
- get,
- get into trouble,
- gripe,
- harass,
- harm,
- harry,
- haunt,
- heckle,
- hector,
- hex,
- hound,
- hunt,
- hurt,
- ill-treat,
- impair,
- importune,
- infect,
- injure,
- irk,
- irritate,
- jinx,
- maltreat,
- martyr,
- menace,
- miff,
- mistreat,
- molest,
- nag,
- needle,
- nettle,
- nudzh,
- oppress,
- outrage,
- peeve,
- pester,
- pick on,
- pique,
- plague,
- play havoc with,
- play hob with,
- pluck the beard,
- poison,
- pollute,
- pother,
- prejudice,
- provoke,
- punish,
- pursue,
- rack,
- ride,
- rile,
- roil,
- ruffle,
- savage,
- scathe,
- subjugate,
- suppress,
- taint,
- tease,
- threaten,
- torment,
- torture,
- trouble,
- try the patience,
- tweak the nose,
- tyrannize,
- vex,
- victimize,
- violate,
- worry,
- wound,
- wreak havoc on,
- wrong