PERSECUTIVE Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

persecutive

adjective

Definition of persecutive

as in frightening

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for persecutive

Adjective

As the frightening phantom of Frank the Bunny warns, this parallel reality has a ticking clock that’ll result in its imminent collapse in just 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds.

— Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2026
For neighbors, the crash brought a frightening interruption to an otherwise routine afternoon.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of frightening

Adjective

Bad dreams – like scary stories – work as fire drills for the developing brain.

— Liz Rosenberg, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026
There, shortly after fully participating in a practice as if nothing ever happened, the rookie linebacker recapped the scenes from perhaps the scariest moment of his football career three days prior.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of scary

Adjective

The chilling effect, according to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, is a phenomenon in which individuals refrain from engaging in expression for fear of getting into trouble.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Sectarian tensions and the disrupting force of the Cold War plunged the Middle Eastern nation into decades of armed conflict, with a chilling effect on daily life.

— Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of chilling

Adjective

Then Clark put on a dribbling clinic, made nifty pass after nifty pass and became both a harassing presence on defense and the Fever's emotional leader during a 20-6 second-quarter run.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
The first complaint, in which a clerk made similar accusations of abusive and harassing conduct, was filed with the circuit court in 2022, not long after Merriam’s appointment.

— Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2026

Definition of harassing

Adjective

What started as a routine bike ride home turned into a terrifying fight for survival for Katherine Marroquin on Sunday night.

— Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
In Carroll Gardens, says Cavallo, a house on Henry Street, between Carroll and President, is so terrifying some kids have to cross the street.

— Fiorella Valdesolo, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of terrifying

Adjective

His teams are terrible just before halftime, having been outscored 107-6 in the coach's 24 games.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
If the purpose of buying a suit were merely obtaining clothing, three fittings would be terrible service.

— Anna van Praagh, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of terrible

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.

Browse Nearby Words

persecutions

persecutive

persecutor

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“Persecutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persecutive. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of persecutive

adjective

Example Sentences

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