torment vs persecute

torment is a noun but persecute is not a noun.

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

As verbs, persecute is a hyponym of torment; that is, persecute is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than torment:

Other hyponyms of torment include madden, hamstring, badger, beleaguer, bug, pester, tease, oppress.

torment (noun)	persecute (noun)
the act of harassing someone
a severe affliction
intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain
extreme mental distress
a feeling of intense annoyance caused by being tormented
unbearable physical pain

torment (verb)	persecute (verb)
subject to torture	cause to suffer
torment emotionally or mentally
treat cruelly