profiteer
noun
prof·i·teer
ˌprä-fə-ˈtir 
: one who makes what is considered an unreasonable profit especially on the sale of essential goods during times of emergency
profiteer
intransitive verb
Examples of profiteer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scams like those that destroyed Urbina’s dreams are on the rise, federal data analyzed by ProPublica shows, as profiteers seize on the fear and confusion wrought by President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
—
Naisha Roy, ProPublica, 29 Apr. 2026
Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, her journey unfolds in contrast to profiteers who exploit the war effort, ultimately risking the lives of the very soldiers Margaret strives to save at Gettysburg.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
But Congo has long been part of a frustrating region for would-be peacemakers and profiteers.
—Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Punching Bags Institutional landlords have been favored punching bags over the last decade, with critics painting the firms as profiteers that gained from the US foreclosure crisis and exacerbated affordability challenges that have reached historic proportions.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for profiteer
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Naisha Roy, ProPublica, 29 Apr. 2026
Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, her journey unfolds in contrast to profiteers who exploit the war effort, ultimately risking the lives of the very soldiers Margaret strives to save at Gettysburg.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026
But Congo has long been part of a frustrating region for would-be peacemakers and profiteers.
—Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
Punching Bags Institutional landlords have been favored punching bags over the last decade, with critics painting the firms as profiteers that gained from the US foreclosure crisis and exacerbated affordability challenges that have reached historic proportions.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for profiteer
Cite this Entry
“Profiteer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profiteer. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
profiteer
noun
prof·i·teer
ˌpräf-ə-ˈti(ə)r
: a person who makes an unfair profit especially on essential goods during an emergency
profiteer
verb
Legal Definition
profiteer
noun
prof·i·teer
ˌprä-fə-ˈtir
: one who makes an unreasonable profit especially on the sale of essential goods during times of emergency (as during wartime)
profiteer
intransitive verb
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