persecutor

UK: /ˈpɜːsɪkjuːtəʳ/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

per•se•cute /ˈpɜrsɪˌkyut/   v. [~ + object] , -cut•ed, -cut•ing. 

1. to treat (someone) cruelly or unfairly, esp. because of religion, race, etc.:
   In the early days of Christianity, Christians were persecuted by the Romans.
2. to annoy (someone) without stopping.

per•se•cu•tor, n. [countable] See -seq-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

per•se•cute  (pûr′si kyo̅o̅t′), v.t., -cut•ed, -cut•ing. 

1. to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, esp. because of religion, race, or beliefs; harass persistently.
2. to annoy or trouble persistently.

• 1400–50; late Middle English; back formation from persecutour persecutor Late Latin persecūtor origin, originally prosecutor, equivalent. to persecū-, variant stem of persequī to prosecute, pursue closely (see per-, sequence) + -tor -tor

per′se•cut′ing•ly, adv. 
per′se•cu′tive, adj. 
per′se•cu′tive•ness, n. 
per′se•cu′tor, n. 
per•se•cu•to•ry  (pûr′si kyo̅o̅′tə rē, -kyə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), adj.  Synonyms

• 1. afflict, torture, torment.
• 2. worry, badger, vex, bother, pester.