persecution
noun
per·se·cu·tion
ˌpər-si-ˈkyü-shən 
1
: the act or practice of persecuting especially those who differ in origin, religion, or social outlook
2
: the condition of being persecuted, harassed, or annoyed
Examples of persecution in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the 1950s and 1960s, McCarthyism swept through the nation, fueling anti-communist fervor and persecution that shook the very foundation of the American identity.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
Washington must not give the Taliban’s repression of women a blank check—especially because the deepening persecution of women will feed other kinds of extremism.
—Lisa Curtis, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2024
California legislators plan to introduce a bill Thursday that would bolster efforts by Holocaust survivors, their heirs and other victims to recover artwork and other property stolen from them as a result of political persecution.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Jews fleeing in the middle of the night rely on their knowledge, wisdom, and resilience to survive persecution, war, and political shifts.
—Geri Stengel, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Benedict's death prompted rallies and vigils in U.S. cities from New York to Los Angeles, with organizers calling their death a reminder of the dangers and persecution the LGBTQ+ community continues to face.
—S. Dev, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024
Migrants who claim a fear of persecution in their home countries are referred to a U.S. asylum officer for an interview to determine whether their claims are credible.
—Nick Miroff, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024
The work embraces a devotion to Catholicism, which, during the time of Shakespeare, was a sect subject to widespread persecution.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
Many are migrants seeking asylum after escaping violence or persecution.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
Washington must not give the Taliban’s repression of women a blank check—especially because the deepening persecution of women will feed other kinds of extremism.
—Lisa Curtis, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2024
California legislators plan to introduce a bill Thursday that would bolster efforts by Holocaust survivors, their heirs and other victims to recover artwork and other property stolen from them as a result of political persecution.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Jews fleeing in the middle of the night rely on their knowledge, wisdom, and resilience to survive persecution, war, and political shifts.
—Geri Stengel, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Benedict's death prompted rallies and vigils in U.S. cities from New York to Los Angeles, with organizers calling their death a reminder of the dangers and persecution the LGBTQ+ community continues to face.
—S. Dev, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024
Migrants who claim a fear of persecution in their home countries are referred to a U.S. asylum officer for an interview to determine whether their claims are credible.
—Nick Miroff, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024
The work embraces a devotion to Catholicism, which, during the time of Shakespeare, was a sect subject to widespread persecution.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
Many are migrants seeking asylum after escaping violence or persecution.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'persecution.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near persecution
Cite this Entry
“Persecution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persecution. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
persecution
noun
per·se·cu·tion
ˌpər-si-ˈkyü-shən
1
: the act or practice of persecuting
2
: the condition of being persecuted
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