Definition of "persecute"

persecute

/ˈpɝsəkjut/

verb
third-person singular simple present persecutes, present participle persecuting, simple past and past participle persecuted
1. To pursue in a manner to do harm or cruelty to; especially, because of the victim's race, sexual identity, or adherence to a particular belief.
  Quotations
  I have heard, brethren, how sharply Antichrist persecuteth you, in vexing the faithful servants of Christ with divers and strange kinds of afflictions.
  1563 March 30, John Foxe, Actes and Monuments of These Latter and Perillous Dayes, […], London: […] Iohn Day, […]
  "Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Matthew 5:44
2. To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.
3. To kill many of one species of animal, with the intent of removing them from human habitats.