1
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to
people who were persecuted simply for practicing their religious faith
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bothering
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of persecuting
Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.
—
New York Times,
11 June 2026
Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.
—
Isaac Butler,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
Behind the story One of the really big stories on my beat covering China for the last decade has been Beijing's intensive ramp-up in detaining and persecuting Uyghurs, a primarily Muslim ethnic minority.
—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
26 May 2026
The South African government has denied persecuting the ethnic minority, composed of descendants of European settlers, mostly from the Netherlands.
—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Saddam towered over Iraq’s political regime for nearly 30 years, plunging the country into multiple destructive wars, persecuting his own citizens and inflicting widespread trauma and suffering.
—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
24 Apr. 2026
The order also accused the Cuban government of persecuting political opponents, suppressing free speech and the press, and committing other human rights violations—actions that have been documented by human rights organizations over the years.
—
Chad De Guzman,
Time,
17 Mar. 2026
The term refers to biblical passages in which Jesus described Jews in specific communities who were persecuting the early Christians.
—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
ProPublica,
4 Feb. 2026
Troops are occupying our cities and persecuting our people.
—
Maria Guinnip,
Oklahoman,
21 Jan. 2026
New York Times,
11 June 2026
Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.
—
Isaac Butler,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
Behind the story One of the really big stories on my beat covering China for the last decade has been Beijing's intensive ramp-up in detaining and persecuting Uyghurs, a primarily Muslim ethnic minority.
—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
26 May 2026
The South African government has denied persecuting the ethnic minority, composed of descendants of European settlers, mostly from the Netherlands.
—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Saddam towered over Iraq’s political regime for nearly 30 years, plunging the country into multiple destructive wars, persecuting his own citizens and inflicting widespread trauma and suffering.
—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
24 Apr. 2026
The order also accused the Cuban government of persecuting political opponents, suppressing free speech and the press, and committing other human rights violations—actions that have been documented by human rights organizations over the years.
—
Chad De Guzman,
Time,
17 Mar. 2026
The term refers to biblical passages in which Jesus described Jews in specific communities who were persecuting the early Christians.
—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
ProPublica,
4 Feb. 2026
Troops are occupying our cities and persecuting our people.
—
Maria Guinnip,
Oklahoman,
21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecuting
Verb
-
This comes at a time when existential fiscal anxiety has been plaguing Americans.
-
The other factor that Mercedes needs to consider is that reliability issue that’s plaguing itself and its customer teams.
Verb
-
That shift may help explain why some couples notice their partner’s scent bothering them more during periods of conflict.
-
The chest pain that had been bothering her finally let up.
Verb
-
Cholera, a waterborne bacterial disease, has unleashed a perilous wave across southern Africa, with active outbreaks currently afflicting five countries in southern and central Africa.
-
Never mind the economic turbulence afflicting the country and the world, driven most recently by rising gas prices because of the war in Iran.
Verb
-
Weird; annoying even – but the floaters did not seem urgent.
-
My biggest concern about adding a tracking device around Mya’s neck was annoying her or creating disruption.
Verb
-
Henry Bernard Montgomery, 38, was arraigned Monday afternoon on one count of third-degree killing/torturing animals and given a $20,000 bond with a GPS tether.
-
In fact, the disease has been torturing humans for at least 5,500 years, according to a study published today in the journal Nature .
Verb
-
The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me.
-
His doctor had been bugging him for years to get a colonoscopy because of his age, but Driggers declined.
Verb
-
He is accused of attacking a 27-year-old man with a beer mug inside the Hula Bar on Saturday night.
-
Liv Morgan controversially interrupted Iyo Sky's coronation, attacking her and forcing a tap-out.
Verb
-
Unanswered workplace messages are a common, irritating phenomenon, often perceived as deliberate avoidance despite recipients being active elsewhere.
-
Morales turns another character who can be irritating into one whose lot, and whose needs, demands attention.
Cite this Entry
“Persecuting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecuting. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
