• (GA) IPA: /ˈpɝsəkjut/

persecute (persecutes, present participle persecuting; past and past participle persecuted)

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 one's race, sexual identity, adherence to a particular religious creed, or mode of worship.

   He who persecutes one will persecute all.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Matthew 5:44 ↗:

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

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

• oppress, harass, distress, worry, annoy

• French: persécuter
• German: verfolgen, schikanieren, bedrängen, peinigen
• Portuguese: perseguir
• Russian: пресле́довать
• Spanish: perseguir

• German: plagen, belästigen, drangsalieren, haschen
• Portuguese: perseguir
• Russian: докуча́ть