persecute
verb/ˈpɜrsɪkjuːt/
Frequency rank: #15,895 of 20,003 in the WORDED list (wordfreq data)
Meaning
To treat someone cruelly or unfairly, especially because of their race, religion, or beliefs.
Example sentence
The government began to persecute religious minorities who refused to follow the new law.
Synonyms & related words
More words in ranks 15,801–15,900
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