variants
also British victimise
victimizes; victimized; victimizing
1
: to treat (someone) cruelly or unfairly
They were victimized because of their religion.
2
chiefly US
: to make a victim of (someone) : to harm or commit a crime against (someone)
people who have been victimized by thieves/theft [=people who are the victims of thieves; people who have been robbed]
More than a dozen elderly women were victimized [=swindled] by the con artist.
Cite this Entry
“Victimize.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/victimize. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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