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

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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

For almost fifty years, BET has been the home of Black cultural production, casting the Black community as the main character where it was otherwise tokenized or exploited for its creations. — Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 With a broad enough goal and real-world access, an agent can find and exploit ambiguities in the rules. — Chris Stokel-Walker, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026

Noun

At the Black Hat security conference, Natalie Silvanovich and Ivan Fratric from Google’s Project Zero demonstrated that these attacks can still affect modern platforms, showing two distinct zero-click exploits on the Pixel 9 and Pixel 10. — Justyn Newman, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026 Here agents were built to find software exploits and placed in flawed or deliberately permissive environments. — Chris Stokel-Walker, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exploit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exploit

Verb

Clay regularly advises organizations on using existential psychology and behavioral science to improve their products, services, and workplace culture.

— Big Think, Big Think, 6 Aug. 2026
The little device that could cause big trouble Federal investigators are looking into mini computer devices commonly used by water utilities and other organizations.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of use

Verb

Whenever Rebecca can outfox him, Rupert manages to manipulate situations, which is how the Water sign aims to take control of matters.

— Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
Those releases were queasy, dank, almost fetid, as though Ableton could manipulate flesh as well as frequencies.

— Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of manipulate

Verb

Shawn Vanderhoven is a partner at The Wiseman Group, a thought leadership and consulting firm working with many of the biggest and brightest companies in the S&P and focusing on developing a leader's ability to fully utilize their people’s talent.

— Big Think, Big Think, 6 Aug. 2026
Others utilize programs for hospice care to look after loved ones, or small-business loans to open a new storefront or hire a new employee.

— JD Vance, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of utilize

Noun

Alpha-Zero achieved these feats by playing tens of millions of games against itself—that is, by gathering experiences.

— Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
Carrick named an unchanged line-up in four of his 17 Premier League games last season — a feat Amorim managed just once.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of feat

Noun

One example is United Airlines’ fleet of Boeing 767s, which feature all the carrier’s very latest cabin comfort experiences, but four of which entered service way back in 1991.

— Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
The exhibitions here dive into Black experience both in Canada and beyond.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of experience

Verb

The expansion, leveraging Australian monazite, will deliver key heavy rare earths like terbium and dysprosium by late 2027, while also producing uranium.

— David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
At his best, Stearns reads the market well and knows how best to leverage his team’s strengths.

— Tim Britton, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of leverage

Verb

This now applies to veterans, homeless individuals, young adults aging out of foster care, parents of 14- to 17-year-olds and those aged 55 to 64.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 5 Aug. 2026
If the shooter is reckless, like firing a weapon into the air, a state law regarding reckless behavior would apply.

— Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 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 11 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of exploit

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