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

to annoy or trouble persistently.

verb

comfort , commend , console , reward , soothe

verb

afflict , aggrieve , annoy , badger , bait , beat , be on one’s case , bother , crucify , distress , dog * , dragoon , drive up the wall , exile , expel , harass , hector , hound * , hunt , ill-treat , injure , maltreat , martyr , molest , oppress , outrage , pester , pick on , plague , pursue , tease , torture , tyrannize , vex , victimize , worrynotes:persecute means \'to harass or treat unjustly\'; prosecute is \'to bring legal action against\' or \'to pursue something until the end\' , harry , hound , importune , torment , wrong