A single word for a person who suffers great loss

Question

Can anybody give me a single word for a person who suffers great loss as in the context below. The word loser is not appropriate:

Mike lost everything after his failed business venture.

Phillip suffered great loss due to the flood.

Thursagen · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-06 05:35:25Z

up vote 4 down vote accepted

How about "destitute"

Phillip was left destitute as a result of the flood./ Phillip is now a destitute.

There is also "ruined"

Philip suffered great loss due to the flood. He is now ruined.

or

"Devastated"

edited Jun 6 '11 at 5:35

answered Jun 5 '11 at 20:57

Thursagen
1

+1 for destitute, which I have heard used in the way the OP is seeking, as a noun. (See first example here.) – Callithumpian Jun 5 '11 at 22:52

Monica Cellio · Answer 2 · 2011-06-05 20:56:43Z

up vote 3 down vote

"Victim" is often used for everything from natural disasters to diseases to financial ruin.

answered Jun 5 '11 at 20:56

Monica Cellio
11.1k22657

Gigili · Answer 3 · 2011-06-05 22:07:56Z

up vote 3 down vote

I'd suggest:

choker: an unfortunate person who is unable to perform effectively because of nervous tension or agitation.
Victim: One who is harmed by or made to suffer from an act, circumstance, agency, or condition.

answered Jun 5 '11 at 22:07

Gigili
2,1011130

Callithumpian · Answer 4 · 2011-06-05 22:29:31Z

Mike could be called an unfortunate:

unfortunate–noun
A victim of bad luck.

Phillip could be called a sufferer:

sufferer–noun
One who suffers; a person who endures or undergoes pain, either of body or of mind; one sustaining evil of any kind.

Marcin · Answer 5 · 2011-06-05 21:09:49Z

up vote 0 down vote

"The bereaved" refers to someone who has suffered great loss, whether through the death of another or otherwise.

answered Jun 5 '11 at 21:09

Marcin
3,015512

	Even when nobody died? I'm used to "bereaved" applying to people who've lost loved ones, but not to those who've lost money or property. – Monica Cellio Jun 5 '11 at 21:12
	"having a close relation or friend who has recently died". – Gigili Jun 5 '11 at 21:13
	@Monica Cellio: It refers to great loss. It's just that almost any usage not referring to death is hyperbolic. – Marcin Jun 5 '11 at 21:14
	According to etymonline, bereaved mostly applies to loss of loved ones, and bereft to loss due to circumstance. – jwpat7 Sep 23 '12 at 21:09
	@jwpat7 Mostly. Not the same as solely. – Marcin Sep 24 '12 at 18:30

5 Answers