victimize

verb

vic·​tim·​ize ˈvik-tə-ˌmīz 

victimized; victimizing

transitive verb

1

: to make a victim of

2

: to subject to deception or fraud : cheat

victimization

ˌvik-tə-mə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

victimizer

ˈvik-tə-ˌmī-zər 

noun

Synonyms

• beat
• bilk
• bleed
• cheat
• chisel
• chouse
• con
• cozen
• defraud
• diddle
• do
• do in
• euchre
• fiddle
• fleece
• flimflam
• gaff
• hose [slang]
• hustle
• mulct
• nobble [British slang]
• pluck
• ream
• rip off
• rook
• screw
• shake down
• short
• shortchange
• skin
• skunk
• squeeze
• stick
• stiff
• sting
• sucker
• swindle
• thimblerig

Examples of victimize in a Sentence

They were victimized because of their religion.

victimized by a confidence man with a slick story

Recent Examples on the Web

Anyone who has been victimized has been asked to contact the Mountain View Police Department at [phone]. —Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024

Blackwood came in on relief for San Jose at the start of the second period, and Crosby quickly victimized him. —Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024

And according to Blueprint, these men often feel pessimistic and disillusioned about America and its political system—something Trump has capitalized on, positioning himself as the antiestablishment figure being victimized by the Washington political elite. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

There’s my case and there’s a number of other cases with similar allegations, some involving underage people as well as adults that are victimized by him. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

victimize

verb

vic·​tim·​ize ˈvik-tə-ˌmīz 

victimized; victimizing

: to make a victim of especially by cheating