Persecute vs Prosecute - What's the difference?
persecute | prosecute | Related terms |
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.
To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.
(legal) To start criminal proceedings against.
* Milton
(legal) To charge, try.
To seek to obtain by legal process.
To pursue something to the end.
* Shakespeare
Prosecute is a related term of persecute.
As verbs the difference between persecute and prosecute
is that 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 while prosecute is to start criminal proceedings against.persecute
English
Verb
(persecut)- "Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." – Matt. 5:44.
Synonyms
* oppress, harass, distress, worry, annoyReferences
(Webster 1913) ----prosecute
English
Verb
(prosecut)- to prosecute a man for trespass, or for a riot
- To acquit themselves and prosecute their foes.
- to prosecute a right or a claim in a court of law
- to prosecute a scheme, hope, or claim
- I am beloved of beauteous Hermia; / Why should not I, then, prosecute my right?
