verb
-
to punish or discriminate against selectively or unfairly
-
to make a victim of
-
to kill as or in a manner resembling a sacrificial victim
Related Words
See cheat.
Other Word Forms
- unvictimized adjective
- victimization noun
- victimizer noun
Etymology
Origin of victimize
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Belated fixes cannot undo this harm. We must hold Big Tech accountable for giving abusers the power to victimize women and girls at the click of a button," Ahmed said.
From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026
“It is crucial not to criminalize or victimize those who are visiting and supporting true rehabilitation,” Cardenas said, wiping away her tears.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2024
“Just gutless people trying to continue to victimize Gloria’s siblings and children.”
From Seattle Times • May 5, 2023
"People who associate with sociopaths are likely to become their victims, or to victimize other people while serving the sociopath's interests."
From Salon • Feb. 7, 2023
Fear and anger can make us vindictive and abusive, unjust and unfair, until we all suffer from the absence of mercy and we condemn ourselves as much as we victimize others.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.