Exploit
To make use of something, especially for gain or advantage; to use someone or something in an unethical or unfair way.
verb (also noun)Exploit
To make use of something, especially for gain or advantage; to use someone or something in an unethical or unfair way.
verb (also noun)Imagine This
Imagine a company discovers a loophole in a contract and exploits it to reduce costs, ignoring ethical considerations as the law allows it to prosper.
Sounds Like
eks-ployt
Looks Like
Looks similar to export or explode, due to spelling and letter combination.
Remember This
Exploiting something often implies taking unfair advantage. In computing, an exploit is a piece of code or software that takes advantage of a vulnerability to cause harm or gain access.
Other Forms
Connect With
utilize, harness, capitalize on, take advantage of, leverage, manipulate
Note
Be careful not to confuse with 'exploration' or 'export.' Context will reveal whether 'exploit' means to use something beneficially or to abuse someone.
Study Deeper
- The company exploited the new software to automate tasks.
- The firm exploited a loophole in the tax code to reduce its liability.
From Old French exploit meaning 'profit, advantage'; from Latin explΕtitus (used, employed) via French, reflecting the sense of using something to one's advantage.
EX-ploy-IT: Remember that exploiting means using a clever ploy to gain an advantage, often at someone else's expense.
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Advantageous
adjectiveProviding an advantage; favorable or beneficial in a given situation.
Retain
verbTo keep possession of something; to continue to have or remember something; to hire or engage a professional service.
Heterogeneous
adjectiveDescribing a mixture or group that is composed of unlike parts; not uniform or homogeneous throughout.