exploited

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​ploit·​ed ik-ˈsplȯi-təd 

ˈek-ˌsplȯi-

: 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

exploited

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of exploit entry 2

Examples of exploited in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

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

Adjective

from past participle of exploit entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

1867, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for exploited

• unexploited