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 of victimize

• cheat
• pluck
• squeeze
• sting
• hustle
• deceive
• screw
• defraud
• beat
• stick
• do

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

In seeing their six-game winning streak halted just before hitting the friendly skies for a four-game road trip that tips off in Phoenix on Sunday, the Hornets (32-32) were victimized by Miami in the fourth quarter. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 7 Mar. 2026

The two are believed to have victimized dozens of underage girls and women. —Faris Tanyos, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026

When Isabelita was overthrown on March 24, 1976, the Dirty War expanded to victimize anyone with even a tenuous connection to the left. —Daniel R. Quiles, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026

Austria made this dual citizenship possible through a 2020 law offering citizenship to descendants of persons victimized by the Nazis. —Cary Lowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1813, 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