- present participle of exploit.
exploiting
Americannoun
-
the act of utilizing something, especially for profit.
More resources should be allocated to the exploiting of the local market by attracting more business to the region.
-
the act of using a person or thing selfishly for one’s own ends.
When I saw the commercial, I was appalled at the exploiting of children's sorrow for corporate gain.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exploiting
First recorded in 1830–40; exploit 2 ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun senses; exploit 2 ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective sense
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Intelligence agencies and hackers are exploiting vulnerabilities to track enemy movements and identify targets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
The use of runners attacking space Kane creates is not new - Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers have previously found joy exploiting it, but Gordon has been the latest beneficiary, while starting out wide.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
As you can see, buying and holding over the past five- and 10-year periods has far outperformed three different ways of exploiting the historical tendency for market weakness between May Day and Halloween.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026
During a hearing over that issue last month, prosecutors revealed jailhouse recordings in which Lavie bragged about exploiting Cloobeck.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
I think, he thought, they’re exploiting me sort of.
From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
