Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
persecute (verb)transitive verb
1.
to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict , specifically to cause to suffer because of belief
2.
to annoy with or urgent approaches (as attacks, pleas, or importunities) - persistent pester wrong
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
persecute (verb)1.
to cause persistent suffering to
SYNONIMS:
agonize, anguish, bedevil, beset, besiege, curse, excruciate, harrow, persecute, plague, rack, torment, tortureRELATED WORDS:
assail, attack; badger, dog, hound, pursue, ride; aggravate, agitate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, distress, disturb, exasperate, gall, get, grate, gripe, hagride, harass, harry, irk, irritate, molest, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put out, rasp, rile, vex; discomfort, discompose, disquiet, fluster, grieve, perturb, strain, stress, trouble, try, upset, worry; crush, oppress, overpower, overwhelm, smite, strike, tyrannize, victimize; hurt, pain, pang, prick, smart, stab, sting, wring; martyrNEAR ANTONYMS:
abet, aid, assist, help; deliver, release, relieve, reprieve; comfort, console, content, quiet, solace, soothe, succor2.
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
SYNONIMS:
aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, eat, exasperate, frost, gall, get, grate, gripe, hack (off), irk, itch, nark, nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, vexRELATED WORDS:
hassle, heckle; nag; inflame ( enflame), provoke, rouse; badger, bait, bullyrag ( ballyrag), devil, hagride, harass, harry, pester, plague, tease; anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, infuriate, madden, rankle, roil; agitate, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, exercise, freak (out), fret, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry; affront, insult, miff, offend, outrageNEAR ANTONYMS:
appease, conciliate, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate; delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy; assure, cheer, comfort, console, content, quiet, reassure, solace, soothe