EXPLOITING Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

exploiting

verb

present participle of exploit

as in using

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

Relevance

as in manipulating

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

as in utilizing

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 exploiting While the software flaws have now been found and patches issued, the question remains whether enough of the internet will deploy the patches in time, before hackers start exploiting the vulnerability to attack websites and steal vital data. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026 The blueprint included the recruitment of mercenaries and exploiting the grievances of disaffected citizens, from religious fanatics and extremists to soccer fans. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026 Suddenly, exploiting women’s bodies for entertainment didn’t feel so good. — Danielle Pergament, Allure, 19 Oct. 2026 Now, in yet another blow to national self-esteem, the ex-head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND, has been arrested on charges of exploiting state secrets. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026 Major cringe, on the other hand, navigates the aesthetic affect critically and formally to induce it—viscerally exploiting its possibilities. — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 The pass rush couldn’t get close to Chambliss (no sacks, 4 hurries), who was able to find receivers exploiting Missouri’s zone coverage. — Pj Green october 17, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026 Leaving aside the comics, tie-books, video games, and other ancillary delights of exploiting successful IP, there’s the Netflix show, of course. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026 At least three people were arrested in Florida after allegedly exploiting the chaos left behind by Hurricane Isaias to steal a car and loot a store. — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exploiting

Verb

All three said West Point appears to be circumventing the judge's ruling by using a different justification to continue to enforce its speech rules.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
How people are using agents Several themes are emerging from people testing agents in their personal and professional lives.

— Marty Swant, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of using

Verb

This gave the team control over the motor’s movement without physically manipulating it.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
The 18-year-old is suspected of manipulating an Indiana teen over a social platform into harming herself and taking her own life, according to prosecutors in Germany.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of manipulating

Verb

Some customers suggest opening the whole thing ahead of Christmas and utilizing the calendar’s components as stocking stuffers.

— Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026
Just keep in mind that installation involves basic electrical wiring, and fully utilizing the camera requires an ongoing Ring Protect subscription.

— John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of utilizing

Verb

In an earlier episode, Pam confronts Grace’s mother about abusing her daughter and ends up bashing in the woman’s head with a meat tenderizer — which sounds like a pivotal moment but plays more like a side quest.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
The former owner of several unlicensed North Texas boarding homes pleaded guilty Monday to financially abusing and fatally neglecting elderly and disabled people in her care, according to court filings.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of abusing

Verb

Agarwal is effectively taking infrastructure developed around one of the most document-heavy and regulated consumer financial transactions and applying it to a wider collection of financial problems.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
There is a special difficulty in applying just-war theory to wars between a powerful military and an insurgent group.

— Jordi Graupera, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of applying

Verb

McKinney has focused his campaign on lessening the city’s homelessness crisis by leveraging people into treatment, tackling quality-of-life crimes, and reducing the city’s out-of-control legal costs.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Once a member of Sway House, the frat-like content studio that dominated during the pandemic, Beck is now leveraging his roots (dancing shirtless on TikTok) for something ever-so-slightly less bro-y.

— Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of leveraging

Verb

These are basically less privileged neighborhoods where the government is meant to show a greater focus on education by employing more teachers and so on.

— Elektra Kotsoni, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Ukraine has gotten very good at drone warfare, employing these little robots both in offensive and defensive capacities.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of employing

Verb

He was finally elected to the Presidency in 2002 and served two terms, until the end of 2010, harnessing a commodity boom to invest in major social spending, including welfare programs, that lifted tens of millions out of poverty.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
Animal Collective’s Geologist conceived the album at the Joshua Tree observatory of visual artist Kyle Simon, harnessing the power of the moon to record music.

— Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of harnessing

Browse Nearby Words

exploiters

exploiting

exploits

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Exploiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploiting. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of exploiting

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes