PERSECUTE
persecute, oppress
(verb) cause to suffer; “Some religious groups are persecuted in some countries”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
persecute (third-person singular simple present persecutes, present participle persecuting, simple past and past participle persecuted)
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.
To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.
Synonyms
• oppress, harass, distress, worry, annoy
Source: Wiktionary
Per"se*cute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Persecuted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Persecuting.] Etym: [F. persécueter, L. persequi, persecutus, to
pursue, prosecute; per + sequi to follow, pursue. See Per-, and
Second.]
1. 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.
Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully
use you, and persecute you. Matt. v. 44.
2. To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent
solicitations; to annoy. Johnson.
Syn.
– To oppress; harass; distress; worry; annoy.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition