victimize

verb

vic·​tim·​ize ˈvik-tə-ˌmīz How to pronounce victimize (audio)
victimized; victimizing

transitive verb

1
: to make a victim of
2
: to subject to deception or fraud : cheat
victimization noun
victimizer noun

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
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.
So with a tremendous level of satisfaction for the characters and the audience, he was brutally killed the way so many women who had been victimized were killed in Gilead before [at the end of season four]. Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025 Wilson’s accuracy has been far too erratic (57% completion percentage in his career), but he has been victimized by circumstances, too. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 May 2025 There’s no perfect response to being victimized, which is why characters like Flamingo and her guardian Boa (Paula Dinamarca), the commune’s rankled matriarch, end up with such wildly divergent stories. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 May 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for victimize

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of victimize was in 1830

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Cite this Entry

“Victimize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/victimize. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

victimize

verb
vic·​tim·​ize ˈvik-tə-ˌmīz How to pronounce victimize (audio)
victimized; victimizing
: to make a victim of especially by cheating

More from Merriam-Webster on victimize

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