victim
One who suffers
A victim is someone who suffers harm, injury, or loss, typically from forces outside their control—crime, accident, disease, or circumstance.
The victim of the robbery was shaken but unharmed.
The word extends to those exploited or deceived: victims of a scam.
In broader use, victim can describe anyone affected by misfortune: a victim of bad timing.
The phrase play the victim suggests someone exaggerates or fabricates suffering for sympathy or advantage.
Unintended harmful event
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- fatalityDeath from accident
- injuredHaving sustained harm
- woundedHaving sustained harm
tragedy · collision · explosion · earthquake · flood · fire · warzone · ambulance
Lasting psychological wound
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
survivor · harmed · afflicted · tormented · distressed · scarred · healing · recovery
Assign responsibility for wrongdoing
- fall guyOne blamed for others
- patsyEasily deceived victim
- whipping boyDesignated recipient of punishment
- accusedCharged with wrongdoing
persecuted · stigmatized · outcast · black sheep · sacrificial · deflection · framed · set up
One who observes nearby
- blamelessFree of wrongdoing
- wrongfulWithout legal right
- exoneratedCleared of wrongdoing
- collateral damageUnintended harm from military action
civilian · noncombatant · uninvolved · cleared · vindicated · mistaken identity · injustice · wronged
Violent offensive act
- robberyTheft through intimidation
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- theftUnlawful taking of property
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
rape · domestic violence · hate crime · burglary · mugging · scam · identity theft · cybercrime
Captive held as security
- kidnappingUnlawful seizure of person
- abductionUnlawful seizure of person
- ransomPayment for captive's release
- captivityState of being confined
detention · trafficking · abductee · held · seized · taken · confinement · release
Organism that consumes others
- stalkingStealthy, persistent pursuit
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- huntedSought to capture
- targetedChosen for specific attention
defenseless · helpless · unsuspecting · cornered · trapped · pursuit · escape · survival
Aggressive repeated intimidation
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- singled outChosen from among others
- markedBearing an indicator
recipient · subjected · focus · chosen · selected · specific · deliberate · intentional
accident
Unintended harmful event
wounded · tragedy · collision · explosion · earthquake · flood · fire · warzone · ambulance · triage
trauma
Lasting psychological wound
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- anguishIntense mental suffering
grief · survivor · harmed · afflicted · tormented · distressed · scarred · healing · recovery · PTSD
blame
Assign responsibility for wrongdoing
- fall guyOne blamed for others
- patsyEasily deceived victim
- whipping boyDesignated recipient of punishment
accused · persecuted · stigmatized · outcast · black sheep · sacrificial · deflection · framed · set up · witch hunt
bystander
One who observes nearby
- blamelessFree of wrongdoing
- wrongfulWithout legal right
- exoneratedCleared of wrongdoing
collateral damage · civilian · noncombatant · uninvolved · cleared · vindicated · mistaken identity · injustice · wronged · undeserving
assault
Violent offensive act
murder · rape · domestic violence · hate crime · burglary · mugging · scam · identity theft · cybercrime · witness
hostage
Captive held as security
- kidnappingUnlawful seizure of person
- abductionUnlawful seizure of person
- ransomPayment for captive's release
captivity · detention · trafficking · abductee · held · seized · taken · confinement · release · rescue
predator
Organism that consumes others
- stalkingStealthy, persistent pursuit
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- huntedSought to capture
targeted · defenseless · helpless · unsuspecting · cornered · trapped · pursuit · escape · survival · weakness
bullying
Aggressive repeated intimidation
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- singled outChosen from among others
marked · recipient · subjected · focus · chosen · selected · specific · deliberate · intentional · repeated
- V-wordsvacuum, valley, value, vampire, van
- crime investigationdetective, whodunit, investigation, detectives, investigator
- mysteryclue, detective, suspect, clues, sleuth
- TitanicTitanic, RMS Titanic, iceberg, sinking, lifeboats
- true crimetrue crime, cold case, crime docs, unsolved mystery, murder mystery
- crime newscrime scene, court reporter, court reporting, breaking news, arrest report
victimperpetrator
One who commits wrongdoing
attacker · offender · aggressor · assailant · victimizer
- victim rightsLegal protections for harmed parties
- fell victimWas harmed by something
- fall victimBecome harmed by something
- fallen victimBeen harmed by something
- burn victimPerson injured by heat
- fashion victimPerson ruled by trends
victims, victimize, victimized, victimizer, victimization, victimised, victimizing, victimizes, victimising