Persecute /ˈpɜː. sɪ. kjuːt/ /ˈpɝː-/ verb [ t ] to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion

penetrate /ˈpen.ɪ.treɪt/ verb UNDERSTAND
3. [ I or T ] to study or investigate something in order to understand
It's hard to penetrate her mind.
He penetrates deeper into the artist's life in the second volume of his autobiography.
wilderness /ˈwɪl.də.nəs/ /-dɚ-/ noun [ C usually singular ]
1. an area of land that has not been used to grow crops or had towns and roads built on it, especially because it is difficult to live in as a result of its extremely cold or hot weather or bad earth
a beautiful mountain wilderness
Alaska is the last great wilderness.
mainly US It's a wilderness area , under the protection of the Parks Department.
2. an outside area in which plants are left to grow naturally or untidily
The garden was a wilderness of weeds and overgrown bushes.
in the wilderness
If someone, such as a politician, is in the wilderness, they no longer have a position of authority and are not now in the news
After five years in the political wilderness, she was recalled to be foreign minister
dreadful /ˈdred.f ə l/ adjective
very bad, of very low quality, or shocking and very sad
The food was bad and the service was dreadful.
I was beginning to think I'd made a dreadful mistake .
The news report was so dreadful that I just had to switch it off.
vivid /ˈvɪv.ɪd/ adjective
1. Vivid descriptions, memories, etc. produce very clear, powerful and detailed images in the mind
He gave a very vivid and often shocking account/description of his time in prison.
He's one of those people with a very vivid imagination - every time he hears a noise he's convinced it's someone breaking in.
2. very brightly coloured
She was wearing a vivid pink shirt.
permeate /ˈpɜː.mi.eɪt/ /ˈpɝː-/ verb [ I usually + adv/prep T ] formal
to spread through something and be present in every part of it
Dissatisfaction with the government seems to have permeated every section of society.
A foul smell of stale beer permeated the whole building.
The table has a plastic coating which prevents liquids from permeating into the wood beneath.
merchant /ˈmɜː.tʃ ə nt/ /ˈmɝː-/ noun [ C ]
1. formal a person whose job is to buy and sell products in large amounts, especially by trading with other countries
a wine/grain merchant
2. UK informal disapproving someone who is involved in or enjoys something which is unpleasant or annoying to others
a gossip merchant (= someone who enjoys talking about people's private lives)
a speed merchant (= someone who drives too fast)