exploit

¹

[ ek-sploit, ik-sploit ]

noun

1. a striking or notable deed; feat; spirited or heroic act:

   the exploits of Alexander the Great.

   Synonyms: accomplishment

exploit

²

[ verb ik-sploit; noun eks-ploit, ik-sploit ]

verb (used with object)

1. to utilize, especially for profit; turn to practical account:

   to exploit a business opportunity.

2. to use selfishly for one's own ends:

   employers who exploit their workers.

3. to advance or further through exploitation; promote:

   He exploited his new movie through a series of guest appearances.

noun

, Digital Technology.

1. 1. a flaw in hardware or software that is vulnerable to hacking or other cyberattacks.
   2. a piece of software that takes advantage of such a flaw to compromise a computer system or network.
2. (in a video game) the use of a bug or flaw in game design to a player’s advantage or to the disadvantage of other players.

exploit

noun

1. a notable deed or feat, esp one that is noble or heroic

verb

1. to take advantage of (a person, situation, etc), esp unethically or unjustly for one's own ends
2. to make the best use of

   to exploit natural resources

Derived Forms

• exˈploitive, adjective
• exˈploitable, adjective
• ˌexploiˈtation, noun

Other Words From

• ex·ploit·a·ble adjective
• ex·ploit·a·bil·i·ty [ik-sploi-t, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
• ex·ploit·a·tive ex·ploit·a·to·ry [ik-, sploi, -t, uh, -tawr-ee], ex·ploit·ive adjective
• ex·ploit·er noun
• non·ex·ploit·a·ble adjective
• non·ex·ploit·a·tive adjective
• non·ex·ploi·tive adjective
• un·ex·ploit·a·ble adjective
• un·ex·ploit·a·tive adjective
• un·ex·ploit·ive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exploit¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English exploit, espleit, from Old French exploit, Anglo-French espleit, from Latin explicitum, neuter of explicitus “unfolded, set forth,” variant past participle of explicāre “to unfold, unroll, smooth, reveal”; explicate

Origin of exploit²

First recorded in 1300–50; from French exploiter, derivative of exploit (noun); replacing late Middle English expleiten “to achieve,” from Anglo-French, Middle French espleiter, espleitier, derivative of espleit, esploit, expleit, exploit (noun), from Latin explicitum “matter settled, displayed,” noun use of explicitus “unfolded, revealed,” variant past participle of explicāre; exploit ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of exploit¹

C14: from Old French: accomplishment, from Latin explicitum (something) unfolded, from explicāre to explicate

Synonym Study

See achievement.

Example Sentences

All of this might have remained in the realm of intellectual exploit had Tanton not begun to formalize and evangelize his beliefs.

From Salon

Allowing social media platforms to publish disinformation, often anonymously, promotes dishonesty and maximizes profits for those platforms at the expense of the audience they exploit.

From Salon

When replicated at a larger scale, this can lead to false memories—something we see everywhere from boomer Facebook groups bemoaning the disappearance of “proper binmen” to political movements that exploit these feelings of nostalgia, which essentially trade on the false premise that everything was better in the past.

From Slate

He also says priority is given to Thai nationals, whose rights are protected, while Thai business owners often exploit migrants working illegally.

From BBC

“The often-feckless Trump,” they write, “also revealed deeper fissures in the structure of the presidency that, we worry, a future president might choose to exploit in a fashion similar to Trump — but much more skillfully, and to even greater effect.”

From Salon

Related Words

• abuse
• apply
• capitalize on
• employ
• handle
• manipulate
• mine
• profit from
• use
• utilize