PERSECUTE

[verb] [T] - to treat (someone) unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, political beliefs or homosexuality, or to make (someone) anxious and unhappy by refusing to leave them aloneReligious minorities were persecuted and massacred during the ten-year regime.His latest film is about the experience of being persecuted for being gay.Ever since the news broke about her divorce, she has been persecuted by the tabloid press (= they have refused to leave her alone).