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

By Sunday, the Bulldogs’ pitchers had been victimized enough and walked Daniels three times after his first inning line-out. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 11 May 2025

The agency asks anyone with information about these or similar incidents and those who feel they may have been victimized by Solarte Basto to contact the department at 407-688-5070 or Crimeline by calling 800 423-TIPS (8477) or visiting www.crimeline.org. —Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2025

The women, who were employed as housekeepers at Robinson's home in Chatsworth, California, were allegedly victimized during incidents spanning between 2007 and April 2024. —Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025

The area includes thousands of eastern hemlock trees, which have been victimized by invasive hemlock wooly adelgids. —Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 2 May 2025

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