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exploitative

[ik-sploi-tuh-tiv]
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adjective

taking unfair or unethical advantage of a person, group, or situation for the purpose of profit, comfort, or advancement: Her success attracted too many exploitative relatives to count.
Also ex·ploit·ive [ik-sploi-tiv] /ɪkˈsplɔɪ tɪv/.Sometimes ex·ploit·a·to·ry [ik-sploi-tuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ɪkˈsplɔɪ təˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/.

Origin of exploitative

First recorded in 1890–95; exploit2 + -ative
Related formsex·ploit·a·tive·ly, adverb

exploit

2
[verb ik-sploit; noun eks-ploit, ik-sploit]

verb (used with object)

to utilize, especially for profit; turn to practical account: to exploit a business opportunity.
to use selfishly for one's own ends: employers who exploit their workers.
to advance or further through exploitation; promote: He exploited his new movie through a series of guest appearances.

noun Digital Technology.

  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.
(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.

Origin of exploit

2
1375–1425; < French exploiter, derivative of exploit (noun); replacing late Middle English expleiten “to achieve,” from Anglo-French, Middle French espleiter, espleitier derivative of espleit, esploit (noun). See exploit1
Related formsex·ploit·a·ble, adjectiveex·ploit·a·bil·i·ty, nounex·ploit·a·tive, ex·ploit·a·to·ry [ik-sploi-tuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ɪkˈsplɔɪ təˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, ex·ploit·ive, adjectiveex·ploit·er, nounhalf-ex·ploit·ed, adjectivenon·ex·ploit·a·ble, adjectivenon·ex·ploit·a·tive, adjectivenon·ex·ploi·tive, adjectiveself-ex·ploit·ed, adjectiveself-ex·ploit·ing, adjectiveun·ex·ploit·a·ble, adjectiveun·ex·ploit·a·tive, adjectiveun·ex·ploit·ed, adjectiveun·ex·ploit·ive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for exploitive

credulous, dupable, green, gullible, innocent, naive, susceptible, trusting, unsophisticated, unsuspecting, exploitative, exploitive, available, feasible, fit, functional, helpful, operable, useful, working

Examples from the Web for exploitive

Contemporary Examples of exploitive

Historical Examples of exploitive

  • Some of these, however, were exploitive and in contradiction to the faith which he professed.

    Herein is Love

    Reuel L. Howe

  • Poverty and the greater portion of crime can be traced directly to this exploitive system.

British Dictionary definitions for exploitive

exploit

noun (ˈɛksplɔɪt)

a notable deed or feat, esp one that is noble or heroic

verb (ɪkˈsplɔɪt) (tr)

to take advantage of (a person, situation, etc), esp unethically or unjustly for one's own ends
to make the best use ofto exploit natural resources
Derived Formsexploitable, adjectiveexploitation, nounexploitive or exploitative, adjective

Word Origin for exploit

C14: from Old French: accomplishment, from Latin explicitum (something) unfolded, from explicāre to explicate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for exploitive

exploit

n.

late 14c., "outcome of an action," from Old French esploit (12c.), a very common word, used in senses of "action, deed, profit, achievement," from Latin explicitum "a thing settled, ended, displayed," neuter of explicitus, past participle of explicare "unfold" (see explicit).

Meaning "feat, achievement" is c.1400. Sense evolution is from "unfolding" to "bringing out" to "having advantage" to "achievement." Related: Exploits.

exploit

v.

c.1400 espleiten, esploiten "to accomplish, achieve, fulfill," from Old French esploitier, espleiter, from esploit (see exploit (n.)).

The sense of "use selfishly" first recorded 1838, from French, perhaps extended from use of the word with reference to mines, etc. (cf. exploitation). Related: Exploited; exploiting. As an adjective form, exploitative (1882) is from French; exploitive (by 1859) appears to be a native formation.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper