1
2
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
3
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
The suspects fled from the scene with the victims' property before officers arrived, running in the direction of Julliard Park, police said.
—
Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Some families of the victims were upset that more officers were not charged given that nearly 400 federal, state and local officers converged on the school soon after the attack.
—Jim Vertuno, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Teenagers as young as 14 were among the victims of the fire in the early hours of January 1, raising questions about whether sufficient age checks were in place.
—Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
Coveware, a company that helps clients respond to cyber extortion incidents, reports the average ransom payment made by victims of cyberattacks has been falling.
—Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for victim
Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Some families of the victims were upset that more officers were not charged given that nearly 400 federal, state and local officers converged on the school soon after the attack.
—Jim Vertuno, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Teenagers as young as 14 were among the victims of the fire in the early hours of January 1, raising questions about whether sufficient age checks were in place.
—Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
Coveware, a company that helps clients respond to cyber extortion incidents, reports the average ransom payment made by victims of cyberattacks has been falling.
—Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for victim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for victim
Noun
-
The last time annual officer fatalities were at a comparable level was in 1943, when 94 officers were killed in the line of duty.—
Center Square,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Jan. 2026
-
At the time, 21 cases of amatoxin poisoning linked to certain types of wild mushrooms were identified that led to severe liver damage in kids and adults, with one reported fatality.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For English language arts, which includes reading, writing, speaking and listening, the district came one percentage point shy of the state average, with 49% of students meeting their individualized growth targets.—
Dmitry Martirosov,
Arkansas Online,
12 Nov. 2025
-
DeVonta Smith is the top target for Hurts with 44 receptions for 588 yards and two scores, while tight end Dallas Goedert has seven TD catches.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
But what's really cool is how the movie brings those story lines together in a narrative filled with intriguing twists, gnarly kills, heroic sacrifices and a slew of nifty new Predator designs.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Swapping the pie crust for these biscuits is a small sacrifice—if it could even be called that.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Britain ultimately lost not only because of Washington’s extraordinary tenacity in the war’s several mainland theaters, but also because the king’s men had to stage long sieges, wage desperate naval battles, and take mounting casualties on too many other fronts spread too far apart.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
While casualties include both Christians and Muslims, and most Boko Haram and ISWAP operations take place in majority-Muslim areas, both groups often emphasize the targeting of Christians in their respective messaging.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Shorebirds like sandpipers and plovers use this sense to detect prey beneath the sand by sensing subtle mechanical vibrations.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Many thousands flee its mandatory, indefinite military service – and some fall prey to exploitative trafficking gangs.—
Mick Krever,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Victim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/victim. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share