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
- exploitatively adverb
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.
After it was published, the Neelemans angrily denied their marriage was unhappy or exploitative, but many readers weren’t convinced.
From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026
But, used properly, AI does not need to be exploitative, and is not a lazy way to make films, Isaac said.
From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026
"It leaves me with a pit in my stomach. It's disgusting, it's depraved, it's exploitative, it's utterly disrespectful."
From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026
Some storylines are meant to be poignant but are overwhelmed by the weirdness or feel exploitative, or the characters aren’t dimensional enough to move you.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 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.
