Oppress vs. Persecute

(transitive) To keep down by unjust force.

Example: ‘The rural poor were oppressed by the land-owners.’;

(transitive) To make sad or gloomy.

Example: ‘We were oppressed by the constant grey skies.’;

Physically to press down on (someone) with harmful effects; to smother, crush.

To impose excessive burdens upon; to overload; hence, to treat with unjust rigor or with cruelty.

Example: ‘For thee, oppressèd king, am I cast down.’; ‘Behold the kings of the earth; how they oppressThy chosen!’;

To ravish; to violate.

To put down; to crush out; to suppress.

Example: ‘The mutiny he there hastes to oppress.’;

To produce a sensation of weight in (some part of the body); as, my lungs are oppressed by the damp air; excess of food oppresses the stomach.

come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority;

Example: ‘The government oppresses political activists’;

cause to suffer;

Example: ‘Jews were persecuted in the former Soviet Union’;

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.

Example: ‘He who persecutes one will persecute all.’;

To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.

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 adherence to a particular religious creed or mode of worship.

Example: ‘Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.’;

To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.

cause to suffer;

Example: ‘Jews were persecuted in the former Soviet Union’;