exploitative

adjective ex·ploit·ative \ ik-ˈsplȯi-tə-tiv , ek-ˌsplȯi- \

Definition of exploitative

: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

Recent Examples of exploitative from the Web

Labor advocates like Farmworker Justice, which have long criticized foreign worker programs for being exploitative, oppose most of the measures.

— alexia elejalde-ruiz, chicagotribune.com, "On Illinois farms, where labor is tight, foreign workers are welcomed," 18 Aug. 2017
That number would not include those schools that game the system without committing bonafide infractions, pushing underprepared players through the system in a cynical, exploitative charade.

— tim sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "UCLA quarterback speaks truth to student-athlete myth | Tim Sullivan," 10 Aug. 2017
His pitch to swing voters in the Midwest was, in essence: Mitt Romney represents all that’s predatory and exploitative in modern, financial capitalism.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Democrats Can Abandon the Center — Because the Center Doesn’t Exist," 30 July 2017
The characters are constantly in the office late at night, working extra hours to impress management and move up in their careers, but the show never pauses to ask if such arrangements—common in the journalism ecosystem—are exploitative.

— clio chang, New Republic, "The Sex and the City of the Trump Era?," 19 July 2017
The Lip Sync Battle host saw the video of his friend and like many viewed it as exploitative.

— shenequa golding, Billboard, "LL Cool J Asks Fans To Help Him Find Maia Campbell After Possible Video of Actress Surfaces," 10 July 2017
Leanne has pushed her daughter into the same exploitative avenue.

— michael phillips, chicagotribune.com, "'Austin Found' review: Linda Cardellini makes the most of a semi-sweet nothing," 6 July 2017
Plus, how can Mackenzie call anyone exploitative after that letter?

— mark shrayber, Cosmopolitan, "Amber Accuses Matt of Draining Her Bank Account in Dramatic Teen Mom OG Reunion," 5 July 2017
Cuba’s party scene became an infamous stage for tourism at its most exploitative and indulgent, a wretched and poisonous case of bloat.

— peter lewis, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Havana' probes the mysteries and magic of the Cuban capital," 5 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exploitative.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.