PERSECUTION Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

persecution

noun

Definition of persecution

as in harassment

something that causes mental distress The media's constant persecution was beginning to affect their lives.

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of persecution Rights groups have condemned the deportations, saying returnees – particularly the Rohingya, a Muslim minority group that accounts for most of Malaysia’s refugees – will face violence, persecution, and forced conscription. — Lindsey McGinnis, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026 Russell’s film is also a response to political persecution and the conveniently destructive power of unproven accusations. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 Caporael’s first choice—Lydia Wardell, a Quaker woman who protested Puritan persecution by walking naked into a meeting house in the 1660s—was intriguing, but already taken. — Jennifer Byrne, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026 The persecution of witches accelerated in lockstep with the increasing privatization of property in the sixteenth century. — Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for persecution

Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecution

Noun

In the lawsuit, the family also claimed that an Oaks Christian School teacher accused their son of lying about the harassment after a student called him a racial epithet inside a classroom.

— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Members of parliament received in-depth security briefings in Canberra on Wednesday as the Australian Federal Police (AFP) commissioner pointed to rising reports of harassment and threats against federal parliamentarians.

— Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of harassment

Noun

High levels of exposure can cause skin, eye and throat irritation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
This formula pairs the retinoid with firming collagen peptides and niacinamide to offset potential irritation and improve elasticity.

— Madison San Miguel, Allure, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of irritation

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persecuting

persecution

persecutions

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“Persecution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecution. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of persecution

noun

Example Sentences

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