persecution

persecution — noun

1. long, repeated cruel treatment of a person or group because of who they are or w

1.nounC2
Definition

long, repeated cruel treatment of a person or group because of who they are or what they believe

Example

Many families fled the country after years of religious persecution.

collocation: religious persecution

The report describes persecution of journalists who criticized the army.

pattern: persecution of + group

Common collocations
  • religious persecution
  • racial persecution
  • face persecution
  • escape persecution
  • persecution of minorities
Synonyms
  • oppression

    often stresses control by a government or other powerful system

  • harassment

    is broader and can describe less extreme repeated mistreatment

  • discrimination

    focuses on unfair treatment, especially in jobs, housing, or services

  • victimization

    emphasizes being made into a victim, often by repeated attacks

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

persecution of a group

persecution for a belief

face persecution

escape persecution

Usage Note

Usually uncountable. Most often used for serious harm linked to religion, race, politics, or another identity, unlike sense 2, which can describe personal harassment in daily life.

Common Mistakes

He suffered persecution because he was late for work.
He got in trouble because he was late for work.
persecution suggests repeated cruel treatment, usually tied to identity or beliefs, not an ordinary punishment.
The refugees escaped prosecution in their country.
The refugees escaped persecution in their country.
prosecution is legal action in court; persecution is cruel treatment of people.

2. repeated behavior meant to bother someone and wear them down until everyday life

2.nounC2
Definition

repeated behavior meant to bother someone and wear them down until everyday life feels hard to bear

Example

The new boy complained about persecution from older students on the bus.

pattern: persecution from somebody

Weeks of phone calls and rude notes felt like persecution.

pattern: feel like persecution

Common collocations
  • persecution from classmates
  • feel like persecution
  • constant persecution
  • pure persecution
  • a campaign of persecution
Synonyms
  • harassment

    is the most general word for repeated bothering or abuse

  • bullying

    often involves stronger people repeatedly hurting or humiliating weaker ones

  • torment

    suggests stronger mental or emotional suffering

  • nagging

    is narrower and usually means repeated complaining or demands

Antonyms
  • peace

    suggests freedom from constant bothering

  • support

    implies helpful rather than hostile treatment

Grammar Patterns

persecution from somebody

feel like persecution

a campaign of persecution

Usage Note

Often used when someone talks about repeated annoyance from the same person or group. Distinguish from sense 1: this use does not have to involve race, religion, politics, or state power.

Common Mistakes

My sister's one joke was persecution.
My sister's constant jokes felt like persecution.
this sense suggests repeated annoyance, not a single act.
The alarm clock persecuted me every morning.
The alarm clock bothered me every morning.
persecution usually describes a person's treatment by people, not an object acting on its own.

Word family

  • persecute
    verbC1
  • persecuted
    adjectiveC2
  • persecutor
    nounC2
  • persecutory
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Persecution is the strongest of these words. It suggests repeated cruel treatment aimed at someone because of identity, religion, beliefs, or another deep difference. Oppression is close, but it more often points to control by a government or powerful system over a whole group. Discrimination is less violent and usually means unfair treatment in work, school, housing, or services. Harassment is broader and can describe repeated hostile behavior in many settings, including personal ones, without the social or political weight of persecution. A family may flee persecution after a new regime jails people for worshipping. An employee may face discrimination when a company rejects her because of age.

persecution ↗oppression ↗discrimination ↗harassment ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • years of persecution
  • victim of persecution

Phrases

  • face persecution
  • suffer persecution

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Persecution comes from a Latin verb meaning "follow closely" or "pursue." In English, the idea developed from chasing someone persistently to cruelly targeting a person or group again and again.