What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mistreated
Example
The employees felt mistreated by their boss and decided to quit. [mistreated: adjective]
Example
The dog was mistreated by its previous owner and now has trust issues. [mistreated: verb]
persecuted
Example
The minority group was persecuted by the government for speaking out against corruption. [persecuted: verb]
Example
She felt persecuted by her classmates for being the only one with a different religion. [persecuted: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mistreated is more commonly used in everyday language than persecuted. Mistreated can be used in various contexts, while persecuted is often associated with more extreme cases of mistreatment and discrimination.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mistreated and persecuted?
Persecuted is a more formal word than mistreated and is often used in legal or academic contexts. Mistreated is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.