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.
“The result was a highly lucrative film franchise that presented itself as sympathetic to Indigenous struggles,” the lawsuit said, “all while silently exploiting a real Indigenous youth behind the scenes.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026
The study's authors highlighted the risks posed by the highly interconnected nature of the global financial system, with advanced AI models able to "dramatically reduce" the time and cost of exploiting vulnerabilities.
From Barron's • May 7, 2026
"Every death in the Channel is a tragedy and a stark reminder of the dangers posed by criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable people for profit," they added.
From BBC • May 3, 2026
Companies such as GSK, AstraZeneca and Merck have announced billions of dollars worth of partnerships in recent months with tech and AI-focused biotech companies aimed at fully exploiting AI.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026
Even 20th-century plant breeders, armed with all the power of modern science, have had little success in exploiting North American wild plants.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
