persecute
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persecute
- /ˈpɝsəkjut/ US
- /ˈpɜːsɪkjuːt/ UK
Where it comes from
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.
verb persecutes · persecuting · persecuted · persecute
- 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. He who persecutes one will persecute all.
-
To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.
Similar: annoy
- To kill many of one species of animal, with the intent of removing them from human habitats. Humans have been persecuting wolves in this forest for centuries.
Translations
Every language
verb to pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict
| Español | perseguir, cazar, encalzar (disused) |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 핍박하다 pipbakhada |
| 日本語 | 迫害する hakugai suru |
| 中文 | 迫害 pòhài |
| हिन्दी | प्रताड़ना pratāṛnā |
| Kiswahili | kuudhi |
| Português | perseguir |
| Français | persécuter |
| Deutsch | verfolgen, schikanieren, bedrängen, peinigen |
| Italiano | perseguitare |
| Ελληνικά | παρενοχλώ parenochló, διώκω dióko |
| Română | a persecuta |
| Русский | пресле́довать preslédovatʹ, подверга́ть гоне́ниям podvergátʹ gonénijam |
| العربية | اِضْطَهَدَ iḍṭahada |
verb to harass with importunity
| Español | importunar |
|---|---|
| हिन्दी | प्रताड़ना pratāṛnā |
| Português | perseguir |
| Deutsch | plagen, belästigen, drangsalieren, haschen |
| Русский | докуча́ть dokučátʹ, надоеда́ть nadojedátʹ, донима́ть donimátʹ, досажда́ть dosaždátʹ, достава́ть dostavátʹ |
Talk about this word "persecute." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/persecute. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. persecute. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/persecute "persecute." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/persecute.Cite this
@misc{persecute_2026,
title = {persecute},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/persecute},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
