persecutions
Cruel targeted mistreatment
Persecutions are instances of systematic mistreatment or harassment, typically of a group based on religion, ethnicity, or political beliefs.
The word carries weight—it implies sustained, often organized cruelty rather than isolated incidents: the persecutions of early Christians, fleeing Nazi persecutions.
In casual use, persecution can be exaggerated to mean any unfair treatment: She has a persecution complex.
Aggressive repeated intimidation
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- victimizationBeing made to suffer
- targetingSelecting as objective
mobbing · ostracism · cyberbullying · stalking · intimidation · humiliation · abuse · mistreatment
Systematic annihilation of a people
- holocaustLarge-scale fiery destruction
- pogromsOrganized persecution of minorities
- cleansingRemoving dirt or toxins
- diasporaScattered population sharing origins
refugees · displacement · expulsion · ghettos · camps · deportation · discrimination · scapegoating
Sustained, probing investigation
- martyrdomSuffering for conviction
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
- apostasyRenunciation of former beliefs
- crusadesAggressive advocacy campaigns
pogroms · auto-da-fe · blasphemy · infidels · apostates · dissenters · sectarians · missionaries
Judicial decision-making body
- chargesAmounts owed or alleged
- accusationsClaims of fault
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
wrongful · unjust · trials · defendants · witnesses · testimony · evidence · sentences
Political objectors
- prisonersIncarcerated individuals
- activistsPeople working for causes
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- regimeSystem of governance
totalitarian · authoritarianism · suppression · silencing · censorship · imprisonment · torture · interrogation
bullying
Aggressive repeated intimidation
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- victimizationBeing made to suffer
targeting · mobbing · ostracism · cyberbullying · stalking · intimidation · humiliation · abuse · mistreatment · scapegoating
genocide
Systematic annihilation of a people
- holocaustLarge-scale fiery destruction
- pogromsOrganized persecution of minorities
- cleansingRemoving dirt or toxins
diaspora · refugees · displacement · expulsion · ghettos · camps · deportation · discrimination · scapegoating · minorities
inquisition
Sustained, probing investigation
- martyrdomSuffering for conviction
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
- apostasyRenunciation of former beliefs
crusades · pogroms · auto-da-fe · blasphemy · infidels · apostates · dissenters · sectarians · missionaries · converts
tribunal
Judicial decision-making body
- chargesAmounts owed or alleged
- accusationsClaims of fault
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
harassment · wrongful · unjust · trials · defendants · witnesses · testimony · evidence · sentences · imprisonment
dissidents
Political objectors
- prisonersIncarcerated individuals
- activistsPeople working for causes
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
regime · totalitarian · authoritarianism · suppression · silencing · censorship · imprisonment · torture · interrogation · surveillance
- early churchapostles, early church, Church Fathers, apostolic fathers, Acts of the Apostles
- CovenantersKirk, Presbyterianism, covenanting, hillmen, wanderers
- hagiographysaints' lives, hagiographer, hagiography, vita, vitae
- patristicsChurch Fathers, church fathers, Cyril of Alexandria, Cappadocian Fathers, apostolic fathers
persecutionsprotections
Measures preventing harm
helps · assistance · support · aid · advocacy
persecutionsjoys
Feelings of great pleasure
blessings · celebrations · delights · comforts · pleasures
persecutionsliberations
Acts of freeing captives
emancipations · freedoms · asylum · refuge · amnesty
- religious persecutionHarming others for faith
- political persecutionState punishment for beliefs
- persecution complexDelusion of being targeted
- ethnic persecutionTargeting groups by ancestry
- Jewish persecutionDiscrimination against Jewish people
- Christian persecutionOppression of church followers