persecuted

[pur-si-kyoo-tid] / ˈpɜr sɪˌkyu tɪd /

ADJECTIVE

aggrieved

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disturbed grieving oppressed wronged

STRONG

afflicted depressed harmed hurt injured pained peeved saddened

WEAK

unhappy woeful

Antonyms

STRONG

comforted

WEAK

happy pleased

ADJECTIVE

downtrodden

Synonyms

STRONGEST

destitute distressed exploited needy oppressed

WEAK

a slave to abject at one's beck and call at one's feet at one's mercy have-not helpless in one's clutches in one's pocket in one's power led by the nose maltreated mistreated overcome subjugated subservient suppressed tyrannized under one's thumb underdog underfoot

Antonyms

STRONGEST

rich wealthy

WEAK

happy respected satisfied

ADJECTIVE

oppressed

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abused destitute distressed enslaved exploited helpless

STRONG

burdened maltreated mistreated suppressed tormented tyrannized

WEAK

a slave to abject at one's feet at one's mercy have-not subservient under one's thumb underfoot

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They have a long history of being persecuted and betrayed.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

"Right now everything here is suppressed, everything is persecuted, people are sitting in prisons."

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

“This is also a film about infamy, because he’s being persecuted so unfairly. He gets killed, and then they killed him again because they killed his reputation,” Moura notes.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2026

Unlike my recent trips there this one wasn’t interrupted by mass demonstrations on behalf of persecuted Muslims.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026

If it hadn’t been for Bruno, Copernicanism might never have received such adverse attention from the authorities, Galileo might not have been persecuted and scientific progress in Italy might have proceeded more smoothly.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

persecuted

Example Sentences

Related Words