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

Rhys is now a youth mentor, and is working with the police on a new campaign to help parents spot warning signs that their child is being exploited.

From BBC

Buck’s two-week trial highlighted a dangerous underworld of sex work, where an influential, wealthy man exploited poor, addicted Black men.

From Los Angeles Times

But he's highly skilled at was exploiting weaknesses in the press, creating his own reality and getting just enough people to project it to the public at large.

From Salon

Related Words

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

More About Exploit

What does exploit mean?

As a verb, exploit commonly means to selfishly take advantage of someone in order to profit from them or otherwise benefit oneself. As a noun, exploit means a notable or heroic accomplishment.

As a verb, exploit can also be used in a more neutral way that doesn’t imply selfishness: to make the best use of something, especially an opportunity, to create a profit or other benefit. But when the verb is applied to people, it is always used negatively. The noun form of the verb exploit is exploitation, and the adjective form is exploitative, as in exploitative practices. 

Example: I know you’re trying to live up to the exploits and success of your father, but exploiting your workers to maximize profit is not the way to do it.

Where does exploit come from?

Exploit has been used as a noun meaning “achievement” since at least the 1300s. It derives from the Latin explicātus, meaning “unfolded” or “set forth.” The first records of exploit as a verb also come from the 1300s, but it wasn’t until around the 1800s that it started to be used to refer to extracting natural resources from the earth, and then to using someone or something for one’s own selfish ends.

Today, the verb exploit is often used negatively, especially when it refers to taking advantage of people. It is often used in the context of businesses exploiting their workers by underpaying and overworking them. In a more neutral sense, exploit can simply mean to use something for a benefit, as in We should exploit every opportunity we have to promote our product. 

When used as a noun meaning “accomplishment,” exploit is usually used positively. It is especially used in the plural to refer to acts that are considered heroic and are well known, as in His athletic exploits made him famous around the world. Similar terms are deed and feat.

In the specific context of computing and especially software, an exploit is a bug or flaw in a system that makes it vulnerable to attack. A piece of software that takes advantage of such a flaw can also be called an exploit. In video games, players who’ve found an exploit can use it to take advantage of other players. Relatedly, the verb sense of exploit is sometimes used in this way, as in Hackers exploited the security hole to steal data.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to exploit?

• exploitation (noun)
• exploitative (adjective)
• exploitive (adjective)
• exploitable (adjective)
• exploitability (noun)
• exploiter (noun)
• exploitatory (adjective)

What are some synonyms for exploit?

• take advantage of
• abuse
• deed
• feat
• accomplishment
• achievement

What are some words that share a root or word element with exploit? 

 

• explicit
• explicate

What are some words that often get used in discussing exploit?

 

• profit
• opportunity
• advantage
• benefit
• greedy
• unethical
• software
• security
• vulnerability
• flaw
• hacker

How is exploit used in real life?

As a verb, exploit is commonly used in a negative way, especially in the context of workers who are being exploited for profit. As a noun, it often refers to the achievements of a famous person, such as an athlete.

A lot of romance is set in a not-quite fantasy land in which nobody rich ever exploits workers and gosh darn it hard work really does pay off and if someone gets sick we gloss over medical bills.

— Courtney Milan 🦖 (@courtneymilan) October 11, 2019

Hilton Coliseum is pretty packed a few mins before tip-off. Lower bowl is almost totally full and the upper deck is mostly full. Seems like all of those people let out a cheer when one Giannis Antetokounmpo was introduced. It seems his exploits are well known here in Iowa.

— Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) October 8, 2018

The NSA has found an exploit in Windows 10 that allows malicious files to be installed on your computer as approved updates.
Hackers will develop tools to install malicious software.

The NSA&DOD urge everyone to update.https://t.co/nyx6MGEREd#Windows10 #NSA #UpdateWindows

— Toby Cafe (@TobyCafeRoblox) January 15, 2020

 

 

Try using exploit!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of exploit meaning “accomplishment”?

A. achievement
B. feat
C. deed
D. failure