# persecute

/ˈpɝsəkˌjut/ (US) · /pˈɜːsɪkjˌuːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/persecute
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. to harass or annoy

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

to bother someone constantly with questions or requests.

For teachers: to harass or beset someone with persistent solicitations or annoying requests.

- The famous actor was persecuted by photographers everywhere he went.
- The junior clerk felt persecuted by his manager's constant, nitpicking demands for minor revisions to every document.

## Examples

- The government began to persecute political dissidents in the capital.
- Historical records show how minority groups were often persecuted during times of national crisis or economic instability.
- The international community condemned the regime for its systematic attempt to persecute religious minorities, citing numerous violations of fundamental human rights and freedom of worship.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.