What does persecuting mean?
Persecuting describes behaviour that involves the deliberate and repeated harassment, intimidation, oppression, or mistreatment of another person, often on the basis of religion, ethnicity, political opinion, or another personal characteristic. The term is more severe and sustained than simply troubling or annoying someone: it suggests a pattern of hostility intended to intimidate, isolate, or harm. In legal and human-rights contexts, “persecuting” can describe systematic abuse against an individual or group. The related verb is “persecute,” while “persecution” names the mistreatment or process itself. Although the word can modify people, actions, remarks, and wider conduct, it normally carries a grave and morally condemnatory connotation. It is therefore reserved for circumstances that go beyond ordinary conflict, rudeness, or isolated disagreement and clearly indicate deliberate oppression.
Engaging in sustained harassment, intimidation, oppression, or mistreatment of another person or group.
"The tribunal concluded that the organization had engaged in persecuting conduct toward former members."
Strongly negative; commonly used in legal, political, and human-rights contexts.
The present participle and gerund of “persecute,” meaning to harass, intimidate, or mistreat someone deliberately and persistently.
"The defendant was accused of persecuting neighbours who questioned his decisions."
This inflected verb form is normally used with an object or in progressive constructions.
Persecuting is one of the few words whose second syllable—secu—has a hard “c” sound: /pər-SEK-yoo-ting/.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does persecuting come from?
The word ultimately comes from Medieval Latin persecutare, a form of the Latin verb persequi, meaning “to pursue” or “to follow.” The term developed through ecclesiastical usage for the oppression or persecution of followers of a faith. English adopted it in the Middle Ages, with “persecute” recorded from around the early 13th century. The Latin root sequi, meaning “to follow,” also underlies related words such as “consecutive” and “consequential.”
How persecuting is actually used
The word is strongly negative and usually implies repeated or systematic mistreatment rather than a single harsh act. It is especially common in legal, political, and human-rights contexts.