victimise
/'viktimaiz/ Cách viết khác : (victimise) /'viktimaiz/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To treat someone unfairly or cruelly, especially by making them suffer or by taking advantage of them. This involves subjecting a person to an unjust action, often repeatedly or systematically.
- To make someone a victim of a crime, deception, or harmful situation. This meaning focuses on the act of causing someone to become a victim.
Usage
- The verb "victimise" (also spelled "victimize") is used to describe the action of the perpetrator, not the experience of the victim. It is a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (the person being victimised).
- It often implies a power imbalance, where one party exploits or persecutes another.
- It is commonly used in contexts discussing bullying, discrimination, fraud, and unfair treatment.
Examples
- Verb:
- The manager was accused of trying to victimise employees who reported safety violations.
- Scammers often victimise the elderly by pretending to be from their bank.
- She felt victimised by the constant gossip and exclusion from her colleagues.
Advanced Usage
- "to victimise someone for something": to punish or target someone unfairly because of a specific characteristic or action.
- He claimed he was victimised for his political beliefs.
- Passive voice usage: The passive form "to be victimised" is very common, emphasizing the experience of the person harmed.
- Many people are victimised by online fraud every year.
Variants and Related Words
- Victimiser/Victimizer (noun): A person who victimises others.
- The police are searching for the victimiser behind the phishing scheme.
- Victimisation/Victimization (noun): The process or act of victimising someone.
- The report detailed systemic victimisation within the institution.
- Victim (noun): The person who is victimised.
- The victims of the scam lost their life savings.
Synonyms
- Persecute: To subject someone to hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of their race, religion, or political beliefs.
- Exploit: To make use of someone or a situation in an unfair or selfish way.
- Target: To single someone out for criticism, attack, or unfair treatment.
- Mistreat: To treat a person or animal badly, cruelly, or unfairly.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions
(Note: "Victimise" itself is not typically used in phrasal verb constructions. The action is usually expressed directly.) - To pick on: (informal) To repeatedly criticize, punish, or be unkind to someone weaker. - The older kids used to pick on him at school.
Related Idioms
- To have a target on one's back: To be in a position where one is likely to be attacked, blamed, or victimised.
- After he spoke out, he felt like he had a target on his back.
- To be thrown to the wolves: To be placed in a situation where one is exposed to harsh criticism or attack without protection.
- The junior executive was victimised and thrown to the wolves to protect senior management.
Verb
- punish unjustly
- make a victim of
- I was victimized by this con-man