persecute

Meaning

To pursue in a manner to do harm or cruelty to; especially, because of the victim's race, sexual identity, or adherence to a particular belief.
To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.
To kill many of one species of animal, with the intent of removing them from human habitats.

oppress

torment

do violence to

opress

prey upon

treat cruelly

tyrannize over

cause to suffer

hate

😡

treat unjustly

cause suffering

do out of spite

do with malice

treat somebody badly

drive on

Frequency

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpɝsəkjut/

Borrowed from Middle French persécuter, from Ecclesiastical Latin persecutor, from Latin persequor, persecutus (“follow up, pursue”), from per- (“through”) + sequor (“follow”) (English sequel). Compare prosecute. Cf. also pursue.

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