0 past simple and past participle of persecute --
1 to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or political beliefs, or to annoy someone by refusing to leave them alone: --
They were violently persecuted by the armed forces.
Rarely did any one state or the international community as a whole rally effectively in defence of the persecuted in another country.
This issue was cast aside when the need to help individuals persecuted by military dictatorships arose.
This internal division resulted from differing positions towards the political activities and leanings of the young people who were persecuted by the military government.
Many other individual artists were also persecuted by the authorities during this period.
Rather, it was a legitimate kind of behaviour in a society which she believed still needed her, even whilst it persecuted her.
The majority, driven by superstition, prejudice, passions and dark instincts, either persecuted them or garbled their teachings.
Scientists who had been persecuted were publicly rehabilitated, and the graduate system was resumed.
