exploitative

adjective

ex·​ploit·​ative ik-ˈsplȯi-tə-tiv  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

Under pressure from the officer on the phone, Sandra, her fiancé, and other employees at the establishment are ordered to put Becky through a series of increasingly exploitative and humiliating experiences — all in the name of upholding the law. —Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026

Part of that liability is around Grok allegedly creating its own kind of strange peep art that many see as exploitative of real people, deepfakes of women and children in bikinis, that sort of thing. —John Werner, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

Friedkin, who died in 2023 and is seen only in archival interviews, now seems disingenuous in some of his denials that the film was exploitative, especially with regard to the murder that inspired it. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2026

Her situation—subject to exploitative forces beyond one’s control, the music ripped from her grasp by people clamoring for a taste of her voice—might make Veeze nod solemnly in sympathy. —Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

exploit entry 2 + -ative

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above