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

Often, the governments victimized are struggling financially, and the theft of public money can have a real-life impact on citizens paying the bills, particularly in sparsely populated areas. —Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2024

Concerned that Californians were being victimized by novel types of lenders, state lawmakers gave regulators broad power in 2021 to guard against unfair, deceptive and abusive practices in the financial services industry. —Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024

That led her to create an app to prevent music creatives from being victimized. —La Risa R. Lynch, Journal Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2024

The need is particularly acute for Black women, who are disproportionately victimized by lethal domestic violence. —Ashley Luthern, Journal Sentinel, 8 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