1
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
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2
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
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3
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
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1
as in feat
an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness
the fanciful exploits of the giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan
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2
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
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3
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
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Cite this Entry
“Exploit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploit. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.
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