as in oppressed
suffering grave abuse or injustice at the hands of one in authority
a nation that is still regarded as a refuge for persecuted people from around the world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in afflicted
to cause persistent suffering to
people who were persecuted simply for practicing their religious faith
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in annoyed
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
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Recent Examples of persecuted
Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
Most commonly, people felt they were being persecuted via their electronics – that their Wi-Fi networks, computers or cellphones had been hacked or implanted with tracking devices.
—Alaina Vandervoort Burns, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
Some liberals argued the reaction to Fulnecky’s essay was part of a broader effort to cast Christians as persecuted, while many others picked apart her writing.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 14 Dec. 2025
No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion.
—Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 13 Dec. 2025
Karki's attorneys have been fighting to stop his deportation to Bhutan — a small nation between India and China where Karki's family and others with Nepali ancestry were persecuted and driven out in the 1990s.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 11 Dec. 2025
And thousands have been claiming German and Austrian citizenship thanks to a rule granting the designation to the descendants of Jews who were persecuted by the Nazis.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2025
An asylum-seeker who fled Afghanistan last year after being persecuted by the Taliban is at risk of being deported back to his home country, according to his attorney.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 8 Dec. 2025
The apology came after a sustained campaign by historians and activists who argued that the victims were persecuted for being poor, vulnerable, or simply different.
—James Frater, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
Open Doors is a global Christian charity supporting Christians persecuted for their faith.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecuted
Adjective
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So bringing something that’s a little edgier and a little darker feels like the way theater should go, and usually goes when people feel oppressed.—
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Forget Martha’s Vineyard, poor oppressed victim Ayanna be scooping up Nantucket beachfront.—
Verb
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Support for Bass is more mixed, with her current record containing many more failures than have afflicted either Lurie or any other recent Los Angeles mayor.—
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In most cases, the faithful afflicted by the evil one need only a comfortable chair (better if equipped with armrests) to accompany the exorcistic celebration.—
Verb
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Luis is frankly annoyed by this type of music.—
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Vulnerability is currency on reality television, and after a season of exposing their own struggles and embarrassments, the other women are annoyed that Meredith wants to keep up appearances.—
Verb
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But the hospital has been plagued by security issues in the last few years, and a contract dispute with the nurses’ union.—
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Commentary and opinions Tim Walz isn’t the only governor plagued by fraud.—
Verb
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Hollywood CEOs aren’t getting hot and bothered about using AI to completely replace real-life movie stars; the guilds wouldn’t allow it, and audiences wouldn’t want it.—
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Burrow, who spoke with media after the Bengals lost 18-20 to the Cleveland Browns, seemed bothered by his 'do from the start, sitting down at the mic and instantly raking his lengthy bangs back with his hands.—
Verb
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The attorneys for the Department of Justice argued that the preliminary injunction blocking Abrego Garcia’s removal to Liberia should be dissolved because the government received assurances from the government of the West African country that he will not be persecuted or tortured.—
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Of the few that have arrived in what Saraf describes as a small agricultural town, many have reported being beaten and tortured by different militia groups stationed along the treacherous route between El Fasher and Tawila.—
Verb
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The song, which reclaims a derogatory term for Venezuelan female migrants, was interpreted as defiant and irritated the Venezuelan president, then facing widespread reports of electoral fraud.—
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Other signs your skin is being irritated by a beauty product include redness or flaking.—
Verb
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That's the capital of North Darfur that was besieged for 500 days.—
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The San Francisco 49ers continue to be besieged by significant injuries for the second season in a row.—
Cite this Entry
“Persecuted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecuted. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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