EXPLOIT Synonyms: 137 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'exploit' differ from other similar words?

The words achievement and feat are common synonyms of exploit . While all three words mean "a remarkable deed," exploit suggests an adventurous or heroic act. // his exploits as a spy

Q: When could 'achievement' be used to replace 'exploit'?

In some situations, the words achievement and exploit are roughly equivalent. However, achievement implies hard-won success in the face of difficulty or opposition. // her achievements as a chemist

Q: When is it sensible to use 'feat' instead of 'exploit'?

The words feat and exploit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, feat implies strength or dexterity or daring. // an acrobatic feat

exploit 1 of 2

verb

ik-ˈsplȯit

Definition of exploit

as in to use

to take unfair advantage of the type of person who exploits a friend's good nature by constantly sponging off of him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to manipulate

to control or take advantage of by artful, unfair, or insidious means a politician more than willing to exploit any national tragedy for political gain

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to utilize

to put into action or service it will be a shame if you don't exploit your artistic talent to the fullest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

exploit

2 of 2

noun

ˈek-ˌsplȯit

as in feat

an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness the fanciful exploits of the giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in thing

something done by someone once famed as an actor, John Wilkes Booth is now remembered for a single exploit, his assassination of Lincoln

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in experience

an exciting or noteworthy event that one experiences firsthand a memoir recounting three decades of exploits as a roving foreign correspondent for TV news

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun exploit differ from other similar words?

The words achievement and feat are common synonyms of exploit. While all three words mean "a remarkable deed," exploit suggests an adventurous or heroic act.

his exploits as a spy

When could achievement be used to replace exploit?

In some situations, the words achievement and exploit are roughly equivalent. However, achievement implies hard-won success in the face of difficulty or opposition.

her achievements as a chemist

When is it sensible to use feat instead of exploit?

The words feat and exploit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, feat implies strength or dexterity or daring.

an acrobatic feat

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of exploit

Verb

At the same time, the window between a vulnerability going public and someone actively exploiting it has collapsed. — Srinivas Mukkamala, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026 By exploiting this feature of general relativity, warp drives could indeed work, at least in theory. — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Noun

Researchers said the exploit could have affected hundreds of millions of devices, but Calif reported the flaw to Tencent in July and says the company has since blocked the exploit for all users. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026 Still, the overly detailed recounting of their high-society exploits becomes tedious and makes the book feel unnecessarily long. — Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exploit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exploit

Verb

By using a dedicated promotional code, readers can unlock the full October Prime Day discount immediately, alongside an additional $20 off the sale price.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
Residents were evacuated from 85 homes in the village of Whelford near the base on Sunday, and army bomb-disposal experts used a robot to examine three white vans.

— ALASTAIR GRANT, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of use

Verb

Here again, negative energy densities are conceptually valid, but the question of whether humans could ever produce and manipulate them in the ways required to bring Alcubierre's warp drive into reality is another matter entirely.

— Micah Hanks, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Lashify founder Sahara Lotti said his ability to manipulate the brand’s lashes and create different eye shapes first caught her attention through his work with Zendaya.

— Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of manipulate

Verb

Rather than forcing you to adapt to a permanently stitched grid of elastic loops, the M3 utilizes heavy-duty, modular pages.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
The shoppable magazine features QR codes that customers can utilize to shop directly on Revolve and Fwrd’s websites and apps.

— Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of utilize

Noun

The first stage is designed to be captured by giant mechanical arms on its launch gantry, a feat SpaceX has accomplished four times to date.

— William Harwood, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
The challenge here would seem to come down to avoiding any discernible pattern to develop—no small intellectual feat.

— Artforum, Artforum, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of feat

Noun

Nvidia’s Open Agent Safety Platform, launched on Monday, provides a containment system that only allows access to things an agent needs to do its job.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
Exploring Ireland, one village at a time This was my first visit to Ireland, and the nine-day itinerary was a flawless introduction to all things Éire.

— Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of thing

Noun

Clemons had served as the founding CEO of both ConnCAT and ConnCORP, turning them into hubs for economic and community revitalization that aimed to center the experiences and needs of residents in New Haven’s Dixwell and Newhallville neighborhoods.

— P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Amenities and experiences The service here is warm rather than formal, which suits the setting.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of experience

Verb

Kelly opened by reminding both sides that he's required to apply case precedent.

— JOCELYN NOVECK, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
Carter reasoned that the arbitration was sufficient, Moore received a fair hearing, and the arbitrator correctly applied the relevant standard to the facts.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of apply

Browse Nearby Words

exploding

exploit

exploitable

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Exploit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploit. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of exploit

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

argot

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes