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per·se·cute

persecute

 
 
pronunciation:
puhr s kyut
features:
Word Combinations (verb), Word Parts
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: persecutes, persecuting, persecuted
definition 1: to subject (esp. those belonging to a different political, religious, or racial group) to persistent harassment, punishment, or ill-treatment.
Among those persecuted by the Nazis were Jews, Romanies, Poles, and political opponents, as well as people with disabilities.
synonyms:
harass, oppress
similar words:
abuse, crucify, discriminate against, dragoon, hector, maltreat, mistreat, outrage, tyrannize, victimize
definition 2: to annoy or bother persistently; pester.
The bullies persecuted the new boy.
synonyms:
annoy, badger, bother, harass, harry, hassle, pester, plague, torment
similar words:
aggravate, exasperate, hound, irritate, nag, needle, nettle, provoke, pursue, trouble, vex
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derivations: persecutive (adj.), persecutory (adj.), persecutor (n.)
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