exploited

adjective

ex·​ploit·​ed ik-ˈsplȯi-təd How to pronounce exploited (audio)
ˈek-ˌsplȯi-
Synonyms of exploitednext
: used for someone's advantage
an exploited resource
Pescatarians … are forgetting the fact that fish are the most exploited species on our planet.NationalPost.com
When a system becomes victim to an exploited vulnerability or an intruder, its behavior often changes.David Hamm
especially, of a person : unfairly or meanly used for another's advantage
He dedicated his life to improving the wages and working conditions of one of the nation's poorest and most exploited groups of workers … James C. Harrington

Examples of exploited in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Over the next 50 years, the relationship between the exploited and the exploiters started to reverse itself. Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 3 Sep. 2025 But McGee stresses that the attractiveness of China was about more than just cheap or exploited labor. Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 17 June 2025 With two serious, exploited vulnerabilities and that delayed CISA update deadline, this month’s release takes on a more serious note than usual. Zak Doffman, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of exploit entry 2

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exploited was in 1867

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Cite this Entry

“Exploited.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exploited. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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