victimize

especially British, vic·tim·ise

[vik-tuh-mahyz]

verb (used with object)

victimized, victimizing 

1. to make a victim of.

2. to dupe, swindle, or cheat.

   to victimize poor widows.

   Synonyms: beguile, hoodwink, fool, defraud

3. to slay as or like a sacrificial victim.

victimize

/ ˈvɪktɪˌmaɪz /

verb

1. to punish or discriminate against selectively or unfairly

2. to make a victim of

3. to kill as or in a manner resembling a sacrificial victim

Other Word Forms

• victimizer noun
• victimization noun
• unvictimized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of victimize¹

First recorded in 1820–30; victim + -ize

Synonym Study

See cheat.

Example Sentences

“And that has the biggest impact on women, because women often are more likely to be victimized, and then more afraid to call for help than men.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

FBI investigators say they have discovered over 1,000 women and girls who were allegedly victimized by Epstein and Maxwell.

Read more on Salon

The result was one of Scorsese’s simplest, most powerful performances — a moving eulogy not just for the slain Osage but also all the innocent characters victimized by his films’ litany of bad men.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“There have probably been countless people who have been victimized because they can’t go to law enforcement because they are afraid to go to law enforcement,” said Barger.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Poor interview and investigation practices permitted these additional families to be victimized.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deceive 
• discriminate against www.thesaurus.com
• dupe 
• exploit 
• persecute 
• pick on 
• prey on 
• sting