persecute

present singular third person persecutes · participle present persecuting · participle past persecuted · past persecuted · first person past singular persecuted · archaic present second person singular persecutest · past second person singular persecuted · archaic past second person singular persecutedst · present singular third person persecutes · archaic present singular third person persecuteth · past singular third person persecuted · past plural persecuted · past subjunctive persecuted · participle present persecuting · participle past persecuted · alternative obsolete persequte

1. 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.

   3 more examples

   I have heard, brethren, how sharply Antichrist persecuteth you, in vexing the faithful servants of Christ with divers and strange kinds of afflictions.

   1563 March 30 (Gregorian calendar), John Foxe, Actes and Monuments of These Latter and Perillous Dayes, […], London: […] Iohn Day, […], →OCLC

   "Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 5:44

   One of the village's most notable sons was Thomas Grantham, a Baptist church leader born in 1634, who was persecuted and imprisoned in the struggle for nonconformist beliefs during the reign of Charles II.

   1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 214, about Halton Holegate

   Synonyms: oppress, harass, distress

2. To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.

   Synonyms: annoy

3. 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.