1
as in torturer
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another
years later his schoolyard persecutor would end up being one of his low-paid employees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nuisance
one who is obnoxiously annoying
on this flight my airline-appointed persecutor was a chattering nitwit who could not stop talking about himself
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 persecutor
Third-graders would learn about the Road to Damascus, which tells the story of Paul’s transformation from an early persecutor of Christians into a follower.
—
Heather Hollingsworth, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Third graders would learn about the Road to Damascus, which tells the story of Paul's transformation from an early persecutor of Christians into a follower.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Third graders would learn about the Road to Damascus, which tells the story of Paul's transformation from an early persecutor of Christians into a follower.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Paul was a former persecutor of Christians who became a missionary and was later beheaded in Rome.
—Lori A Bashian , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 23 Nov. 2025
Amish are part of the wider Anabaptist movement, which puts heavy emphasis on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, containing some of his most radical and counter-cultural sayings — to love enemies, live simply, bless persecutors, turn the other cheek and to endure sufferings joyfully.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
The grounds once housed the elaborate palace of first century Roman Emperor Domitian, a persecutor of Christians.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
That is a nasty process which involves digging up Ambar’s still-fresh corpse, then subjecting it to various grisly indignities night after night as retribution gets visited upon our heroine’s persecutors.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 6 Aug. 2025
Using it to describe this week’s attack on Huwara – or other similar attacks in Israel or Palestine – effectively puts Israel in the place of the Jews’ historic persecutors.
—Joshua Shanes, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2023
Heather Hollingsworth, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Third graders would learn about the Road to Damascus, which tells the story of Paul's transformation from an early persecutor of Christians into a follower.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
Third graders would learn about the Road to Damascus, which tells the story of Paul's transformation from an early persecutor of Christians into a follower.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Paul was a former persecutor of Christians who became a missionary and was later beheaded in Rome.
—Lori A Bashian , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 23 Nov. 2025
Amish are part of the wider Anabaptist movement, which puts heavy emphasis on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, containing some of his most radical and counter-cultural sayings — to love enemies, live simply, bless persecutors, turn the other cheek and to endure sufferings joyfully.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
The grounds once housed the elaborate palace of first century Roman Emperor Domitian, a persecutor of Christians.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
That is a nasty process which involves digging up Ambar’s still-fresh corpse, then subjecting it to various grisly indignities night after night as retribution gets visited upon our heroine’s persecutors.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 6 Aug. 2025
Using it to describe this week’s attack on Huwara – or other similar attacks in Israel or Palestine – effectively puts Israel in the place of the Jews’ historic persecutors.
—Joshua Shanes, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecutor
Noun
-
Incredibly, one of Schiller's torturers, Jorge Delgado - the Sun Gym member who had first told Lugo about Schiller and his millions - ended up helping the federal government make their case.—
Troy Roberts,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
His torturers shattered his hands and paraded him around the stadium, taunting him to try to play his guitar.—
Christina Hioureas,
Rolling Stone,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The hotel is on a block next to a major road, but the noise is more of a distant city hum than a nuisance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
Sargassum has become an increasingly expensive nuisance for coastal communities, and as blooms become larger due to warming water temperatures because of climate change and fertilizer run off providing blooms with endless nutrients, the problem will continue to mushroom.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Artistic reveal tease The Atlanta Falcons tapped the approach used by the social media account (at)ArtButMakeItSports to preview their schedule release.—
Teresa M. Walker,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
The number of aces in baseball has diminished over time, while the number of teases has proliferated.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
On May 8, the alleged harasser, Alex Jenkinson, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court via live link and was ordered to stay away from several royal residences.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
Of course, that conservative approach is often wrecked by QB harassers such as Lawrence and Williams, part of a defense that ranked seventh in the NFL in sacks.—
Eric Branch,
San Francisco Chronicle,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Despite that optimism, Landsvik still engages with Maja’s rightful annoyances with the world she is forced to live in.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
19 May 2026
-
For instance, many partners have small gripes or annoyances with habits that are annoying at worst, but far from an outright red flag — like a partner that chews somewhat loudly, leaves cabinet doors open or hums constantly while working.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Pedro Báez joined the Los Angeles pen in 2014 and assumed the role of Goldschmidt’s primary tormentor.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
Brendan Carr, tormenter in chief of the broadcast networks, made his way around the room, as did Lachlan Murdoch, the CEO of Fox Corporation.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This workshop will teach you how to remove your lawn and create a watershed-wise landscape; managing weeds, pests and disease; and lawn care strategies to improve resilience.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
18 May 2026
-
The flooding is the latest crisis for Hawaii’s farmers, on top of wildfires, pests and volcanic tephra — ash and debris ejected by an erupting Big Island volcano, said the state’s top agriculture official, Sharon Hurd.—
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Anyone who thinks the only alternative to being a victim is to be a victimizer is missing some important possibilities.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Even if online shaming continues, this accountability will make sure that the victimizer will face social consequences as well.—
Eli Thompson,
Rolling Stone,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Persecutor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecutor. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
