If someone is prosecuted they are being tried in a court of law; if they are persecuted they are being targeted and harassed.

PERSECUTED definition: 1. past simple and past participle of persecute 2. to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long…. Learn more.

To persecute is to make someone suffer or to keep them in bad circumstances. In some parts of the world governments or military groups persecute, or punish, people for religious beliefs, …

The country's leaders relentlessly persecuted those who fought against the regime. They were persecuted for their beliefs. He complained about being persecuted [= harassed] by the media. …

Persecuted definition: persistently harassed or oppressed, especially because of religious or political beliefs, ethnic or racial origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation..

1. To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs. 2. To annoy persistently; bother: persecuted the babysitter with foolish …

Definition of persecute verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. persecute somebody (for something) to treat somebody in a cruel and unfair way, especially because of their race, …

If someone is persecuted, they are treated cruelly and unfairly, often because of their race or beliefs.

persecuted, adj. & n. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

to treat (someone) cruelly or unfairly, esp. because of religion, race, etc.: In the early days of Christianity, Christians were persecuted by the Romans. to annoy (someone) without stopping. …