exploited

verb

Definition of exploitednext
past tense of exploit
1
as in used
to take unfair advantage of the type of person who exploits a friend's good nature by constantly sponging off of him

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in manipulated
to control or take advantage of by artful, unfair, or insidious means a politician more than willing to exploit any national tragedy for political gain

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in utilized
to put into action or service it will be a shame if you don't exploit your artistic talent to the fullest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of exploited Think beyond immediate threats and consider how routine data trails can be exploited over time. — Erik Wittreich, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Critics, including public health experts and food scientists, have long said the industry has exploited the rule to introduce thousands of unstudied chemicals into the nation’s food supply, potentially endangering public health. — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026 Since the nineteen-seventies, far-right parties have exploited anxieties about the arrival of former colonial subjects and migrant workers in countries such as France, Britain, Belgium, and the Netherlands. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 When that ability gets constrained, when communication feels censored, when speed is prized over rigor, when ambiguity gets exploited instead of clarified, the meaning of the work itself starts to erode. — Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2026 Meta had a rogue agent too Meta confirmed one of its models exploited a security flaw during third-party testing after it was inadvertently given internet access, putting it alongside OpenAI and Anthropic in reporting unexpected agent behavior. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026 And Meta subsequently disclosed that a testing error had given one of its models Internet access, after which the model exploited a vulnerability at another company. — Chris Stokel-Walker, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026 No matter that the Brits, like the Bund, were battling Hitler—the Bundists knew that their allies were the colonized, marginal, and exploited. — Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026 If the Dodgers hadn’t brilliantly exploited an MLB economic system that privileges big-market teams, the Padres wouldn’t be so beholden to the wild-card option year after year. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exploited
  1. used
  2. manipulated
  3. utilized
  4. abused
  5. applied
  6. leveraged
  7. employed
  8. harnessed
Verb
  • Biolyz used the money to build a third lab in England, adding to facilities in Germany and Austria.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • However, consuming large amounts—such as those used in studies where up to 1/2 cup was consumed daily—can start to weaken and damage tooth enamel.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of used
Verb
  • This limits the damage if the agent behaves unexpectedly, is manipulated by malicious input or uses credentials improperly.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • This is a town where almost everybody’s breasts have been sliced, diced, manipulated, and put back together.
    — Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of manipulated
Verb
  • Though the 34 cameras have been mounted at intersections throughout the city for several years, there's a new wave of suspicion about them and the way they're utilized by law enforcement.
    — Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • According to the team, the technology could be utilized for optical connections, smart infrastructure, as well as sensors.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of utilized
Verb
  • Over on Reddit and other online forums, Pitt’s return to drinking has stirred controversy, especially from people who are in recovery themselves or who grew up with loved ones who abused alcohol.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Gordon-Levitt played Neil McCormick, who was abused by the same coach, and processes it by chasing older men as a teenage rent boy.
    — Joshua Encinias, IndieWire, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of abused
Verb
  • When, in January 2018, Modi’s associates applied for new letters, a new official in charge asked for collateral in cash, ultimately exposing the alleged scam.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The latest awards reinforce how those engineering capabilities are being applied to torpedo reliability, submarine maintenance and the long-term readiness of America’s undersea fleet.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of applied
Verb
  • Currently, Flock cameras are posted in every state but Alaska, leveraged by 7,000 law enforcement agencies, the New York Times reported.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The twins leveraged their NIL experiences, including equity deals and audience feedback, as seed capital and market research to build these ventures.
    — Kristi Dosh, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of leveraged
Verb
  • Within that, the number of people classifying themselves as employed fell 87k while the number of people classifying themselves as unemployed fell 178k.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
  • That sensitivity is reflected in the adorable strategy Hunnam employed to detox from playing Gein throughout the production.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of employed
Verb
  • Howard Kendall, Jupp Heynckes and Marcelo Bielsa are among those who have previously harnessed Athletic’s local talent and adapted to the club’s philosophy to leave lasting legacies at San Mames.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Properly harnessed, these mineral deposits would do wonders to boost economic growth.
    — Eghosa E. Osaghae, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of harnessed

Browse Nearby Words

exploitable
exploited
exploiter
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Cite this Entry

“Exploited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploited. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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