victim
victim
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling for "victim"
IPA: /ˈvɪktɪm/
First syllable:
/v/ - voiced bilabial fricative
/ɪ/ - short front unrounded vowel
Second syllable:
/kt/ - voiceless alveolar stop (released)
/ɪ/ - short front unrounded vowel
/m/ - voiced bilabial nasal
Word Form Variations
Singular: victim Plural: victims
Note: There are no other common word form variations for "victim" in English.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A person who suffers from a crime, accident, or misfortune.
Synonyms: sufferer, casualty, injured party
Antonyms: perpetrator, culprit, offender
Verb
Definition: To make someone a victim of crime, accident, or misfortune.
Synonyms: harm, injure, wrong
Antonyms: help, assist, aid
Adjective
Definition: Suffering from or affected by crime, accident, or misfortune.
Synonyms: harmed, injured, wronged
Antonyms: unharmed, uninjured, unwronged
Examples of Use
Books
"The victim was found lying on the floor, bleeding heavily." (Agatha Christie, "And Then There Were None")
"She was a victim of domestic violence for years." (Maya Angelou, "Gather Together in My Name")
Newspapers
"Police are searching for the suspect in a robbery where the victim was injured." (The New York Times)
"The victims of the earthquake are in need of food, water, and shelter." (The Guardian)
Online Publications
"The victim's family is seeking justice for his untimely death." (The Washington Post)
"The article discusses the psychological impact of being a victim of cyberbullying." (Psychology Today)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
"In the movie 'The Silence of the Lambs,' Clarice Starling is tasked with hunting down a serial killer who targets young women as his victims."
"The TV show 'Law & Order' often features episodes centered around victims of various crimes."
"Many video games include elements of victimization, such as characters who are kidnapped, injured, or killed."
General Public Discourse
"The victim's rights movement has gained significant momentum in recent years."
"The term 'victim blaming' is often used to criticize individuals who are held responsible for their own victimization."
"Many people argue that victims of crime should receive greater support and assistance from the government."
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Victim
"The victim mindset dilutes the human potential. By not accepting personal responsibility for our circumstances, we greatly reduce our power to change them."
— Steve Maraboli"A strong man can handle a strong woman. A weak man will say she has an attitude."
— Anonymous (often cited in the context of the victim mentality)"You can’t be a victim and a leader at the same time."
— Robin Sharma"Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both."
— Eleanor Roosevelt (highlighting the importance of fairness for victims and society alike)"To be a victim is to feel powerless; to act like a victim is to relinquish power."
— Eckhart Tolle"You become a victim the moment you start letting others dictate your life for you."
— Steve Maraboli"The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people."
— Martin Luther King Jr. (often reflecting on the responsibility to stand up for victims)"Self-pity is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure, and separates the victim from reality."
— John Gardner"A victim mentality is a prolonged state of mind that keeps you trapped in a story of your own making."
— Anonymous"One is never a victim, but a creator of one’s own fate."
— David Kessler
Etymology
Victim comes from the Latin word victima, which means "animal sacrificed to a god." In ancient Roman religion, animals were often offered as sacrifices to appease the gods or to gain their favor.
Over time, the meaning of victima evolved to include any person or thing that suffers harm or loss. Today, we use "victim" to refer to someone who is harmed by a crime, accident, or misfortune.
The first known use of "victim" in English dates back to the late 14th century.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Victim
Common Phrases:
Fall victim to: To become a casualty of something negative (e.g., "She fell victim to a scam.")
Victim of circumstance: Someone who is harmed due to unfortunate circumstances (e.g., "He was a victim of circumstance, born into poverty.")
Lesser-Known Phrases:
Victim of one's own folly: Someone who suffers the consequences of their own mistakes (e.g., "He was a victim of his own folly, believing the false promises.")
Victim of the system: Someone who suffers because of unfair or unjust systems (e.g., "She felt like a victim of the system, unable to find a job.")
Idioms with Synonyms:
Scapegoat: A person who is blamed for something they did not do (e.g., "He was made a scapegoat for the company's failure.")
Fish out of water: Someone who is in a situation that they are not comfortable with (e.g., "She felt like a fish out of water at the formal dinner party.")
Note: The word "victim" is often used in a negative context, so there are fewer common idioms and phrases that use it positively. However, the phrases and idioms listed above provide a variety of ways to use the word in different contexts.
Posts Related to Victim
Source Information
Definition of victim from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
