Showing results for "exploited"

• past tense form of exploit.
• past participle of exploit.

exploited

American  

[ik-sploi-tid] / ɪkˈsplɔɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. utilized or made practical use of, especially for profit.

   Edible insects are a widely exploited food source among many of the world’s Indigenous populations.

2. used selfishly by someone for their own ends.

   Every one of these exploited workers shared stories of their inhumane working conditions and their determination to fight back.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of exploit.

Other Word Forms

• half-exploited
  adjective
• self-exploited
  adjective
• unexploited
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of exploited

exploit ² ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

Something that's exploited is fully taken advantage of. Fear is probably the most commonly exploited emotion used by directors of horror films. Exploited talents are ones that have been put to good use. And resources that are exploited are being used advantageously. However, this word is quite often used in a more negative way, to mean "used in a victimizing way." In some countries, exploited children are forced to work long hours in bad conditions. When animals are used to test shampoo, most people agree these critters are also exploited.

Example Sentences

Privacy International also criticised the feature, telling the BBC it was "the latest sign AI companies see people's images and data as raw material to be exploited".

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026

Removing E2F3 alongside the missing RB exposes a critical weakness that researchers believe could be exploited with future therapies.

From Science Daily • Jul. 4, 2026

He is far from the only public figure whose identity has been exploited by scammers.

From Barron's • Jul. 3, 2026

A recurrent theme of “The Fire Agent” is the way that progress is exploited for wicked ends by militarists and nationalists.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

The country was a single body, with each organ serving its function—to say that Pharaoh exploited the people was therefore as nonsensical as saying that his head “exploited” his hands.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro

Related Words

• abused
• oppressed
• overburdened