persecute

v. oppress, torment, maltreat; harass, hound, bother

Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual/group by another group. The most common forms are religious persecution, ethnic persecution, and political persecution, though there is naturally some overlap between these terms. The act of killing an offender of the law.
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Verb
1. cause to suffer; "Jews were persecuted in the former Soviet Union"
(synonym) oppress
(hypernym) torment, rag, bedevil, crucify, dun, frustrate
(hyponym) purge
(derivation) persecution

v. persecute, work against

(v. t.)
To pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict; to beset with cruelty or malignity; to harass; especially, to afflict, harass, punish, or put to death, for adherence to a particular religious creed or mode of worship.
  

(v. t.)
To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.