persecute

persecute

/ˈpɜːsɪkjuːt/

1 ​persecute somebody (for something) to treat somebody in a cruel and unfair way, especially because of their race, religion or political beliefs

Throughout history, people have been persecuted for their religious beliefs.

persecuted minorities

2 ​persecute somebody to deliberately annoy somebody all the time and make their life unpleasant

Why are the media persecuting him like this?

Word Origin

late Middle English: from Old French persecuter, from Latin persecut- ‘followed with hostility’, from the verb persequi, from per- ‘through, utterly’ + sequi ‘follow, pursue’.