exploit

As a verb, exploit commonly means to selfishly take advantage of someone in order to profit from them or otherwise benefit oneself. As a noun, exploit means a notable or heroic accomplishment.

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, to create a profit or other benefit. But when the verb is applied to people, it is always used negatively. The noun form of the verb exploit is exploitation, and the adjective form is exploitative, as in exploitative practices. 

Example: I know you’re trying to live up to the exploits and success of your father, but exploiting your workers to maximize profit is not the way to do it.

Exploit has been used as a noun meaning “achievement” since at least the 1300s. It derives from the Latin explicātus, meaning “unfolded” or “set forth.” The first records of exploit as a verb also come from the 1300s, but it wasn’t until around the 1800s that it started to be used to refer to extracting natural resources from the earth, and then to using someone or something for one’s own selfish ends.

Today, the verb exploit is often used negatively, especially when it refers to taking advantage of people. It is often used in the context of businesses exploiting their workers by underpaying and overworking them. In a more neutral sense, exploit can simply mean to use something for a benefit, as in We should exploit every opportunity we have to promote our product. 

When used as a noun meaning “accomplishment,” exploit is usually used positively. It is especially used in the plural to refer to acts that are considered heroic and are well known, as in His athletic exploits made him famous around the world. Similar terms are deed and feat.

In the specific context of computing and especially software, an exploit is a bug or flaw in a system that makes it vulnerable to attack. A piece of software that takes advantage of such a flaw can also be called an exploit. In video games, players who’ve found an exploit can use it to take advantage of other players. Relatedly, the verb sense of exploit is sometimes used in this way, as in Hackers exploited the security hole to steal data.

What are some other forms related to exploit?

• exploitation (noun)
• exploitative (adjective)
• exploitive (adjective)
• exploitable (adjective)
• exploitability (noun)
• exploiter (noun)
• exploitatory (adjective)

What are some synonyms for exploit?

• take advantage of
• abuse
• deed
• feat
• accomplishment
• achievement

What are some words that share a root or word element with exploit? 

• explicit
• explicate

What are some words that often get used in discussing exploit?

• profit
• opportunity
• advantage
• benefit
• greedy
• unethical
• software
• security
• vulnerability
• flaw
• hacker

As a verb, exploit is commonly used in a negative way, especially in the context of workers who are being exploited for profit. As a noun, it often refers to the achievements of a famous person, such as an athlete.

A lot of romance is set in a not-quite fantasy land in which nobody rich ever exploits workers and gosh darn it hard work really does pay off and if someone gets sick we gloss over medical bills.

— Courtney Milan 🦖 (@courtneymilan) October 11, 2019

Hilton Coliseum is pretty packed a few mins before tip-off. Lower bowl is almost totally full and the upper deck is mostly full. Seems like all of those people let out a cheer when one Giannis Antetokounmpo was introduced. It seems his exploits are well known here in Iowa.

— Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) October 8, 2018

The NSA has found an exploit in Windows 10 that allows malicious files to be installed on your computer as approved updates.
Hackers will develop tools to install malicious software.

The NSA&DOD urge everyone to update.https://t.co/nyx6MGEREd#Windows10 #NSA #UpdateWindows

— Toby Cafe (@TobyCafeRoblox) January 15, 2020

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of exploit meaning “accomplishment”?

A. achievement
B. feat
C. deed
D. failure