victimise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "victimise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of making someone a victim or subjecting them to unfair treatment or harm. Example: "The new policy seems to victimise those who are already struggling to make ends meet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Its sections on modern history are a crude rehash of mainland propaganda, omitting any mention of the Cultural Revolution or the Tiananmen Square protests, and extolling the virtues of one-party rule: "multiparty politics could victimise people, whereas concentrated political power creates a selfless government and stable society".The curriculum has been a blunder.

The Economist

Jamaat-e-Islami, a religious party whose views tend towards the extreme end of the spectrum, called the London bombings "the continuation of the conspiracy of 9/11 to victimise Muslims all over the world".General Musharraf must combat such propaganda, spread through Jamaat's many schools.

The Economist

But these days, racism and racists in Russia have mostly chosen to victimise other minorities.

The Economist

Asif Zardari, Pakistan's president, describes such terrorists as "stateless actors", who victimise Pakistan as much as anywhere else.

The Economist

At a recent rally, Mr Asari told locals that they might as well join his movement since the government would "victimise" them anyway.The security forces are further compromised by the fact that some officers are no better than the gangsters they are supposed to be crushing.

The Economist

One good way to forfeit it is to victimise those who have spearheaded the fight against corruption.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

MPs said the family court system was allowing violent men to re-victimise women.

The Guardian

Neither am I familiar with the group trauma experienced by the Chibok community, or the thousands of other Nigerians who have been devastated by Boko Haram's unspeakable actions and further victimised by their government's indefensible inaction.

The Guardian

If anyone is being victimised in Turkey today, it is those that criticise Erdoğan".

The Guardian

The outsourcing of essential services such as campus security and student counselling may mean there are fewer qualified people to listen to students who are victimised.

The Guardian

Speaking to journalists at the Cannes film festival after the first screening of his film about Irish communist James Gralton, who was victimised by the political and religious establishment after daring to establish a dance hall in rural Ireland, Loach said: "Dissidence and countering the prevailing consciousness is a huge issue".

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "victimise", ensure the context clearly demonstrates unfair or unjust treatment. Consider stronger alternatives like "persecute" or "oppress" if the situation warrants a more forceful term.

Common error

Avoid using "victimise" in overly passive constructions that obscure the perpetrator of the action. Instead of saying "he was victimised", specify who victimised him for clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The verb "victimise" functions to describe the act of making someone a victim, subjecting them to unfair or harmful treatment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable term in English. Examples provided by Ludwig highlight its usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "victimise" is a grammatically sound verb used to describe the act of making someone a victim through unfair treatment. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the term is accurate and usable in written English. The analysis reveals that "victimise" is predominantly used within news and media contexts. While considered uncommon in overall frequency, it serves a crucial role in highlighting injustice and eliciting empathy. When using "victimise", consider the best practices outlined, such as ensuring the context clearly indicates unfair treatment and avoiding passive constructions to maintain clarity. Always contextualize its use to ensure the intended meaning resonates with your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

oppress

Focuses on prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control.

persecute

Highlights systematic mistreatment and hostility, often due to beliefs or origin.

discriminate against

Emphasizes unfair treatment based on prejudice.

bully

Suggests repeated aggressive behavior to intimidate or dominate.

exploit

Focuses on using someone unfairly for personal gain.

maltreat

Indicates physical or emotional mistreatment.

abuse

Implies severe and harmful treatment.

ill-treat

Similar to maltreat, but slightly more formal.

subject to harassment

Emphasizes unwelcome behavior that is offensive or intimidating.

cause suffering to

Highlights the infliction of pain or distress.

FAQs

How can I use "victimise" in a sentence?

You can use "victimise" to describe the act of unfairly targeting someone for mistreatment. For instance, "The new policies victimise vulnerable communities."

What's a good alternative to "victimise"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "victimise" with alternatives such as "oppress", "persecute", or "exploit".

Is "victimise" a formal word?

"Victimise" is a relatively neutral term suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but stronger words like "persecute" might be more appropriate in certain situations.

What is the difference between "victimise" and "discriminate against"?

"Victimise" implies a more targeted and intentional act of harm, whereas "discriminate against" suggests unfair treatment based on prejudice.