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

The Trasks encounter a wide swath of citizens, haggling with sneaky cheats, exploiting innocent fools, and befriending big-hearted neighbors. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2026 Don’t be surprised if UM tries to use his speed to exploit Clemson’s secondary. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

Noun

Infrastructure changed every few months, and real exploits still took a long time to appear. — Srinivas Mukkamala, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026 The series follows the exploits of Luffy and his pirate crew in their search for the eponymous One Piece. — Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exploit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exploit

Verb

The setback sparked wide speculation that Sánchez would move forward the general election and use the momentum on the housing issue against his right-wing opponents.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Although the problem warrants a systemic fix, the best short-term solution is for hospitals to create more nuanced documentation tools, and for clinicians to exercise judgment when using them.

— Leah Pierson, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of use

Verb

Present-day police work reflects our current economic order by placing a high value on manipulating such immaterialities.

— Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
According to Treasury, Galeano had been detained in the United States in 2017 on suspicion of manipulating ATMs and was found with drugs and backpacks containing a large amount of cash.

— Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of manipulate

Verb

The landscape designers have ingeniously utilized desalinated water from the nearby sea, ensuring a sustainable water source.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Fontaine maintained the best evaluations come when scouting is utilized along with numbers.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of utilize

Noun

Now, having accomplished the feat at such a young age, Lamine Yamal is poised to cash in for years to come.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026
The concierge is very knowledgeable and can get guests access to things like dinner or event reservations during Sundance Film Festival, and similar feats that otherwise would be impossible—and take that from me as an ex-local.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of feat

Noun

Those who study these things say an export ban would surely backfire.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
The concierge is very knowledgeable and can get guests access to things like dinner or event reservations during Sundance Film Festival, and similar feats that otherwise would be impossible—and take that from me as an ex-local.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of thing

Noun

But our latest research shows how these tombs – built for Etruscans of higher socioeconomic and political status—were designed to offer sophisticated sensory experiences.

— Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
The service is intended to provide a more streamlined travel experience, including access to private terminals rather than crowded commercial airport facilities.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of experience

Verb

While online prediction markets were being naturalized, crypto technology was being leveraged in a similar manner by some of the same actors in the realm of art.

— Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
The agent proactively completes the work, leveraging any apps the user has granted it access to, and only reaches out to the human when something requires their review or attention.

— Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of leverage

Verb

Doing so would entail repairing cracks that admit water, maintaining the foundations of each section, applying a sealant to slow the weathering process, and keeping the encroachment of vegetation in check.

— Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Another act of retaliation, the lawsuit says, is that after applying for assistant chief of technical services, Dougan was rejected for allegedly failing to meet a new suppression-credential requirement.

— Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of apply

Browse Nearby Words

exploding

exploit

exploitable

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Style

“Exploit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploit. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of exploit

verb

noun

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