persecute

transitive verb

To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs.

transitive verb

To annoy persistently; bother.

1. To pursue; follow close after.

To pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment; harass or afflict with repeated acts of cruelty or annoyance; injure or afflict persistently; specifically, to afflict, harass, or punish on account of opinions, as for adherence to a particular creed or system of religious principles, or to a mode of worship.

In a weakened sense, to harass or pursue with persistent attentions, solicitations, or other importunities; vex or annoy.

transitive verb

To pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict; to beset with cruelty or malignity; to harass; especially, to afflict, harass, punish, or put to death, for adherence to a particular religious creed or mode of worship.

transitive verb

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

verb

To pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict; to beset with cruelty or malignity; to harass; especially, to afflict, harass, punish, or put to death for one’s race, sexual identity, adherence to a particular religious creed, or mode of worship.

verb

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

verb

cause to suffer