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Torture vs Persecute - What's the difference?

torture | persecute |

As verbs the difference between torture and persecute

is that torture is to intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone) while 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 torture

is intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony.

torture

Noun

(en noun)
  • Intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony.
  • Using large dogs to attack bound, hand-cuffed prisoners is clearly torture .
    In every war there are acts of torture that cause the world to shudder.
    People confess to anything under torture .
  • (chiefly, literary) The "suffering of the heart" imposed by one on another, as in personal relationships.
  • Every time she says 'goodbye' it is torture !

    Derived terms

    * torture chamber *

    Verb

    (tortur)
  • To intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone).
  • People who torture often have sadistic tendencies.

    Derived terms

    * *

    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) ----