exploitative
adjective
ex·ploit·ative
ik-ˈsplȯi-tə-tiv 
ˈek-ˌsplȯi-
ˈek-ˌsplȯi-
: exploiting or tending to exploit
especially
: unfairly or cynically using another person or group for profit or advantage
exploitative terms of employment
an exploitative film
exploitatively
adverb
Examples of exploitative in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After all, as our own planet degrades, the next targets of exploitative resource extraction may be distant planets, Arzate points out.
—
Smithsonianmag.com, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Aug. 2023
One subplot involves an exploitative agency for Pitbull impersonators; in another, Craig’s ex-wife becomes a pregnancy surrogate for a dubious rich couple.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023
But forests are diminishing through exploitative logging practices as well as the process of desertification, which turns grassland and shrubland arid.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 Aug. 2023
But the case also sends righteous tremors through a frequently exploitative profession.
—David Adjaye, Curbed, 6 July 2023
As their voices grew louder, and as more people on social media began making point-of-view jokes about being the child of a family vlogger, greater rumblings about exploitative child influencer practices began emerging among the general public.
—Angela Yang, NBC News, 15 Aug. 2023
Television commentators and politicians routinely lump together the United States, Europe, and NATO and deride all of them as hypocritical, exploitative, and bent on the subjugation of Turkey.
—Asli Aydintasbas, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2023
Thanks to hampton and the Culture House team, Ladies First delves into the financial predation that is commonplace within the hip-hop music business with Kash Doll, Rah Digga and Saweetie sharing their experiences with exploitative record deals.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 11 Aug. 2023
As with Pountney’s mental-institution Rusalka, David Alden’s Dutchman was based on a concept that made no sense to me: that the Dutchman is an exploitative international businessman.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 8 Aug. 2023
See More
Smithsonianmag.com, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Aug. 2023
One subplot involves an exploitative agency for Pitbull impersonators; in another, Craig’s ex-wife becomes a pregnancy surrogate for a dubious rich couple.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023
But forests are diminishing through exploitative logging practices as well as the process of desertification, which turns grassland and shrubland arid.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 Aug. 2023
But the case also sends righteous tremors through a frequently exploitative profession.
—David Adjaye, Curbed, 6 July 2023
As their voices grew louder, and as more people on social media began making point-of-view jokes about being the child of a family vlogger, greater rumblings about exploitative child influencer practices began emerging among the general public.
—Angela Yang, NBC News, 15 Aug. 2023
Television commentators and politicians routinely lump together the United States, Europe, and NATO and deride all of them as hypocritical, exploitative, and bent on the subjugation of Turkey.
—Asli Aydintasbas, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2023
Thanks to hampton and the Culture House team, Ladies First delves into the financial predation that is commonplace within the hip-hop music business with Kash Doll, Rah Digga and Saweetie sharing their experiences with exploitative record deals.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 11 Aug. 2023
As with Pountney’s mental-institution Rusalka, David Alden’s Dutchman was based on a concept that made no sense to me: that the Dutchman is an exploitative international businessman.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 8 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exploitative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1879, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near exploitative
Cite this Entry
“Exploitative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exploitative. Accessed 26 Sep. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on exploitative
Britannica English: Translation of exploitative for Arabic Speakers
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