Oppress vs. Persecute

Oppress and Persecute Definitions
Oppress
To keep down by severe and unjust use of force or authority
A people who were oppressed by tyranny.
Persecute
To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs.
Oppress
To cause to feel worried or depressed
"People were at a loss ... oppressed by the atmosphere of the dead man's room" (Ward Just).
Persecute
To annoy persistently; bother
Persecuted the babysitter with foolish questions.
Oppress
(Obsolete) To overwhelm or crush.
Persecute
To pursue in a manner to do harm or cruelty to; especially, because of the victim's race, sexual identity, or adherence to a particular belief.
He who persecutes one will persecute all.
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Oppress
(transitive) To keep down by unjust force.
The rural poor were oppressed by the land-owners.
Persecute
To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.
Oppress
(transitive) To make sad or gloomy.
We were oppressed by the constant grey skies.
Persecute
To kill many of one species of animal, with the intent of removing them from human habitats.
Oppress
Physically to press down on (someone) with harmful effects; to smother, crush.
Persecute
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.
Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
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Oppress
To impose excessive burdens upon; to overload; hence, to treat with unjust rigor or with cruelty.
For thee, oppressèd king, am I cast down.
Behold the kings of the earth; how they oppressThy chosen!
Persecute
To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.
Oppress
To ravish; to violate.
Persecute
Cause to suffer;
Jews were persecuted in the former Soviet Union
Oppress
To put down; to crush out; to suppress.
The mutiny he there hastes to oppress.
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.
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Oppress
Come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority;
The government oppresses political activists
Oppress
Cause to suffer;
Jews were persecuted in the former Soviet Union