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Persecute vs Oppression - What's the difference?

persecute | oppression |

As a verb persecute

is 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 one's race, sexual identity, adherence to a particular religious creed, or mode of worship.

As a noun oppression is

the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner.

persecute

English

Verb

(persecut)
  • 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 one's race, sexual identity, adherence to a particular religious creed, or mode of worship.
  • "Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." – Matt. 5:44.
  • To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.
  • Synonyms

    * oppress, harass, distress, worry, annoy

    References

    (Webster 1913) ----

    oppression

    English

    Noun

  • The exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner.
  • * (Sir Walter Raleigh)
  • Oh, by what plots, by what forswearings, betrayings, oppressions , imprisonments, tortures, poisonings, and under what reasons of state and politic subtilty, have these forenamed kings
  • The act of oppressing, or the state of being oppressed.
  • A feeling of being oppressed.
  • *, chapter=7
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=[…] St.?Bede's at this period of its history was perhaps the poorest and most miserable parish in the East End of London. Close-packed, crushed by the buttressed height of the railway viaduct, rendered airless by huge walls of factories, it at once banished lively interest from a stranger's mind and left only a dull oppression of the spirit.}}