Survivor
Tribal council show
A survivor is someone who remains alive after an event that killed others or could have killed them: She was the sole survivor of the crash, a cancer survivor.
The word implies endurance through hardship—survivors of abuse, trauma, or disaster.
In reality television, *Survivor* is a long-running competition show where contestants outlast each other.
Informally, calling someone a survivor suggests resilience and toughness: She's a survivor—she'll get through this.
Save from harm
- earthquakeSeismic ground movement
- tsunamiSeismic sea surge
- shipwreckDestroyed vessel at sea
- evacuationRemoval from danger
debris · rubble · search party · refuge · shelter · emergency · first responder · aftermath
Capacity to recover quickly
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
- healingRestoration of health
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
coping · strength · flashback · trigger · support group · testimony · aftermath · overcomer
Sworn statement as evidence
- AuschwitzNazi extermination camp
- liberationRelease from constraint
- witnessOne who attests
- memorialThing preserving remembrance
documentation · genocide · concentration camp · resistance · refuge · emigration · Shoah · oral history
Temporary disease absence
- cancerUncontrolled cell proliferation disease
- oncologyCancer medicine specialty
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- chemotherapyAnti-cancer drug treatment
prognosis · five-year · treatment · biopsy · tumor · screening · relapse · pink ribbon
Superlatively prepared physically
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- natural selectionDifferential reproductive success
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- DarwinBritish naturalist, species theorist
competition · predator · prey · instinct · endurance · reproduction · mutation · extinction
rescue
Save from harm
- earthquakeSeismic ground movement
- tsunamiSeismic sea surge
- shipwreckDestroyed vessel at sea
evacuation · debris · rubble · search party · refuge · shelter · emergency · first responder · aftermath · aid
resilience
Capacity to recover quickly
recovery · coping · strength · flashback · trigger · support group · testimony · aftermath · overcomer · scars
testimony
Sworn statement as evidence
- AuschwitzNazi extermination camp
- liberationRelease from constraint
- witnessOne who attests
memorial · documentation · genocide · concentration camp · resistance · refuge · emigration · Shoah · oral history · remembrance
remission
Temporary disease absence
- cancerUncontrolled cell proliferation disease
- oncologyCancer medicine specialty
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
chemotherapy · prognosis · five-year · treatment · biopsy · tumor · screening · relapse · pink ribbon · support
fittest
Superlatively prepared physically
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- natural selectionDifferential reproductive success
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
Darwin · competition · predator · prey · instinct · endurance · reproduction · mutation · extinction · niche
- Elimination Gamesmusical chairs, dodgeball, knockout, last man standing, hot potato
- reality TVcontestant, The Bachelor, elimination, The Bachelorette, The Simple Life
- 2000siPhone, Wii, MySpace, YouTube, Hurricane Katrina
- Arena Rockarena rock, U2, AC/DC, stadium anthem, Aerosmith
- BeyonceSingle Ladies, Halo, Crazy in Love, Destiny's Child, 4
- 1982E.T., Thriller, Blade Runner, Tron, Falklands War
Survivorquitter
One who surrenders
defeatist · capitulator · loser · weakling · pushover
Survivorperpetrator
One who commits wrongdoing
aggressor · attacker · abuser · assailant · victimizer
- last survivorFinal person still alive
- survival kitLife-preserving supply bundle
- survival knivesRugged outdoor cutting tools
- jungle survivalThriving in wild tropics
- survival instinctInborn drive to live
- survival skillsKnowledge for staying alive