purge vs persecute

purge is a noun but persecute is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
purge	Yes	No	Yes	No
persecute	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, persecute is a hypernym of purge; that is, persecute is a word with a broader meaning than purge:

Other hypernyms of purge include oppress.

purge (noun)	persecute (noun)
an act of removing by cleansing; ridding of sediment or other undesired elements
the act of clearing yourself (or another) from some stigma or charge
an abrupt or sudden removal of a person or group from an organization or place

purge (verb)	persecute (verb)
excrete or evacuate (someone's bowels or body)	cause to suffer
eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth
rid of impurities
rinse, clean, or empty with a liquid
make pure or free from sin or guilt
clear of a charge
oust politically