VICTIM Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

victim

noun

ˈvik-təm

Definition of victim

as in fatality

a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed helped the victims of the fire

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in target

a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule the victim of schoolyard teasing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sacrifice

something offered to a god the Aztecs are believed to have sacrificed thousands of victims annually to the sun

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of victim Sworn and civilian personnel — including detectives, crime analysts and victim advocates — have worked around the clock since the incident to process the scene and identify those involved. — Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026 The two men say they were injured on October 21, when the first victim was walking on West 47th Street near Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in traditional Hasidic Jewish clothing, according to the criminal complaint. — Mark Morales, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026 In July, Southwark Crown Court heard that the duo attacked the victim, Abraham Diaw, at the Tape London nightclub in February 2023. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026 Preliminary investigations indicate the victim might have fallen from a bridge. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for victim

Recent Examples of Synonyms for victim

Noun

According to Kansas City Police Department data, the fatal crash is Kansas City’s 57th traffic fatality this year.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
His death appeared to be the first fatality involving a horse carriage in Central Park since the rides began.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of fatality

Noun

President Emmanuel Macron has been the primary target of scorn following nationwide riots that overtook Paris and other cities, but the insurgent National Rally does not want to let mainstream conservatives off the hook.

— Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
Las Vegas’ Michael Mayer (six receptions, 32 yards) was a frequent target.

— Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of target

Noun

Team owner James Dolan promised rings to the players' significant others as well, highlighting that the support and sacrifices of the players' partners during last season's playoffs were vital to securing the title.

— Otis Livingston, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Watching the Taliban regain power called into question the meaning of their sacrifice, and the government’s difficulty evacuating Afghan comrades who had fought with them felt like a betrayal.

— Azadeh Moaveni, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of sacrifice

Noun

Overnight, Russia struck energy and civilian targets across Ukraine, resulting in at least one casualty, according to local media reports.

— Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
The drills include amphibious landing, air and missile defense and mine sweeping, as well as intelligence gathering, logistics and resupply and casualty evacuation on several remote islands, including Tanegashima.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of casualty

Noun

In Alaska, salmon are one of the main prey sources for belugas—and the fish need cold water to develop their eggs, keep their metabolism stable and prevent energy depletion during long migratory journeys.

— Ryan Green, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026
But even the slower, more deliberate decision-making can fall prey to any number of cognitive biases.

— Shayla Love, Vox, 25 Oct. 2026