exploitative
Americanadjective
Usage
What does exploitative mean? Exploitative is an adjective that describes someone or something that selfishly takes advantage of someone or a group of people in order to profit from them or otherwise benefit. It comes from the verb exploit, which commonly means to take advantage in such a way. The act of doing so is exploitation. 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, or to create a profit or other benefit. But when the verb is applied to people, it is always used negatively. Exploitative is only ever used negatively, and it always implies greed, selfishness, or unethical practices. It’s often used in the context of the exploitation of workers by businesses, especially in phrases like exploitative practices. Other, less common variations of exploitative are exploitive and exploitatory. Example: The article exposes many of the industry’s exploitative business practices.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exploitative
First recorded in 1890–95; exploit 2 ( def. ) + -ative ( def. )
Vocabulary lists containing exploitative
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.
"The extractive industry is often exploitative and prone to gross human rights abuses that must be monitored and enforced," Julius Ogogoh, the director of the lobby group, told AFP.
From Barron's • Jun. 29, 2026
Killean said there should be a greater focus on holding social media companies accountable, especially when it came to "addictive and exploitative features".
From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026
Mr. Dasgupta recommends not a return to empire—he exposes China’s exploitative, extractive relationships with African nations as little more than reheated Western colonialism—but what he calls a “new theology.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
Ride-hail drivers have long raised concerns about low wages, minimal workplace protections and exploitative practices.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026
There was no exploitative question asked, no especially revealing detail offered.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
