execute, put to death - kill as a means of socially sanctioned punishment; "In some states, criminals are executed"

madden - drive up the wall; go on someone's nerves

beset, chevvy, chevy, chivvy, chivy, harass, harry, hassle, molest, plague, provoke - annoy continually or chronically; "He is known to harry his staff when he is overworked"; "This man harasses his female co-workers"

hamstring - make ineffective or powerless; "The teachers were hamstrung by the overly rigid schedules"

badger, beleaguer, bug, pester, tease - annoy persistently; "The children teased the boy because of his stammer"

persecute, oppress - cause to suffer; "Jews were persecuted in the former Soviet Union"

criticise, criticize, pick apart, knock - find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws; "The paper criticized the new movie"; "Don't knock the food--it's free"