Victims — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈvik-təm/ vic·tim

Meaning & Definition of Victims

Victims (noun)

  1. one that is acted on and usually adversely affected by a force or agent
  2. one that is injured, destroyed, or sacrificed under any of various conditions
  3. one that is subjected to oppression, hardship, or mistreatment

Victims (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed

    "helped the victims of the fire"

    similar: casualties, fatalities, losses, prey
    related: losers, underdogs, martyrs, sacrifices, collateral damages, murderees
    near: gainers, victors, winners, harmers, injurers, assassins, killers, murderers

  2. a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule

    "the victim of schoolyard teasing"

    similar: butts, marks, prey, sitting ducks, targets
    related: laughingstocks, mockeries, pilgarlics, lightning rods, fall guys, goats, scapegoats, whipping boys
    near: gossipers, gossips, talebearers, tattlers, tattletales, troublemakers, defamers, libelers, libelists, traducers, baiters, hecklers, needlers, ribbers, taunters, teasers, teases, tormentors, torturers, deriders, insulters, mockers, ridiculers, scoffers, scorners, caricaturists, lampooners, parodists, satirists

  3. something offered to a god

    "the Aztecs are believed to have sacrificed thousands of victims annually to the sun"

    similar: immolations, offerings, sacrifices
    related: libations, oblations, propitiations, holocausts, contributions, donations

Related Entry: Victim (noun)

Victim is a different word from Victims. The synonyms below are for victim, not for victims.

  1. a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed

    "helped the victims of the fire"

    similar: casualty, fatality, loss, prey
    related: loser, underdog, martyr, sacrifice, collateral damage, murderee
    near: gainer, victor, winner, harmer, injurer, assassin, killer, murderer

  2. a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule

    "the victim of schoolyard teasing"

    similar: butt, mark, prey, sitting duck, target
    related: laughingstock, mockery, pilgarlic, lightning rod, fall guy, goat, scapegoat, whipping boy
    near: gossip, gossiper, talebearer, tattler, tattletale, troublemaker, defamer, libeler, libelist, traducer, baiter, heckler, needler, ribber, taunter, tease, teaser, tormentor, torturer, derider, insulter, mocker, ridiculer, scoffer, scorner, caricaturist, lampooner, parodist, satirist

  3. something offered to a god

    "the Aztecs are believed to have sacrificed thousands of victims annually to the sun"

    similar: immolation, offering, sacrifice
    related: libation, oblation, propitiation, holocaust, contribution, donation

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Victims

The most common words with a similar meaning to Victims:

casualties, fatalities, losses, prey, butts, marks, sitting ducks, targets, immolations, offerings, sacrifices

Related Words for Victims

losers, underdogs, martyrs, collateral damages, murderees, laughingstocks, mockeries, pilgarlics, lightning rods, fall guys, goats, scapegoats, whipping boys, libations, oblations, propitiations, holocausts, contributions, donations

Near Antonyms of Victims

gainers, victors, winners, harmers, injurers, assassins, killers, murderers, gossipers, gossips, talebearers, tattlers, tattletales, troublemakers, defamers, libelers, libelists, traducers, baiters, hecklers, needlers, ribbers, taunters, teasers, teases, tormentors, torturers, deriders, insulters, mockers

Word Forms of Victims

Derived words: victimhood (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Victims

Latin victima; perhaps akin to Old High German wīh holy

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Victims

What does "Victims" mean?

"Victims" means one that is acted on and usually adversely affected by a force or agent. As a noun, it is defined as: one that is acted on and usually adversely affected by a force or agent. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Victims"?

Other words for "Victims" include casualties, fatalities, losses, prey, butts, marks, sitting ducks and targets. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Victims" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Victims"?

There are 30 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Victims". Common alternatives include casualties, fatalities, losses, prey, butts, marks, sitting ducks, targets, immolations and offerings.

How do you use "Victims" in a sentence?

Examples of "Victims" in a sentence: "helped the victims of the fire"; "the victim of schoolyard teasing"; "the Aztecs are believed to have sacrificed thousands of victims annually to the sun".

Is "Victims" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Victims" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Victims"?

"Victims" is pronounced /ˈvik-təm/ and divided into syllables as vic·tim.

What is the origin of the word "Victims"?

"Victims" comes from Latin victima; perhaps akin to Old High German wīh holy. First known use: 15th century.

What is another word for "Victims" meaning "a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed"?

When "Victims" (noun) means a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed, synonyms include casualties, fatalities, losses and prey.