What does it mean to exploit? Meaning, synonyms and examples

What does it mean to exploit? Complex issue. On the one hand, it seems to be clear that when a person is mercilessly used, they are not treated fairly. Another thing is difficult - to distinguish ordinary work from exploitation or friendship from exploitation, or anything from exploitation. We’ll talk about this today.

The meaning of the verb

Of course, almost immediately, when we hear the verb “exploit”, we see the image of Karl Marx and our Soviet past. But in order not to go into philosophical distances, we immediately give a definition from the explanatory dictionary:

1. Expose (in the first meaning).
2. Exposure (in the second value).

The above tells us about two things: firstly, the explanatory dictionary does not pamper us with a variety of formulations, and secondly, we also need to decipher the noun.

Meaning of the noun and interpretation

What is exploitation? The answer is further:

1. The appropriation of the results of the labor of others by those who own the means of production.
2. The use of natural resources, means of production, transport, buildings.

Remember the shadow of Marx? She, like a ghost, hovers over us. If translated into everyday language, then you can exploit a person or things, equipment. It’s bad to exploit a person, but things are normal, they were created for that.

The answer to the question of what it means to exploit has not yet been received. To put it simply, in a modern language, exploitation, while maintaining a connection with the historical meaning, is understood as a synonym for use, the latter, of course, is negatively colored. And the same rule applies as with the object of study. When we use things, we act reasonably when people are indecent and immoral.

Synonyms and examples of ruthless exploitation

Since we are talking about similar concepts, then let's “announce the whole list” of synonyms for “exploitation”:

• using;
• oppression;
• oppression;
• closing up;
• violence;
• manipulation.

Replacements in this case can help out those who understood little from the previous story. Yes, we promised to explain how exploitation differs from normal healthy interactions. The answer is simple: if an element of coercion is present in any activity, then this is most likely an exploitation. Examples:

• An employee works for a small salary, because he has nowhere to go. In this case, the inability to choose another job is coercion.
• The girl walks at the expense of gentlemen to restaurants, manipulating their sympathy for herself. The love of men is a tool of coercion.
• One friend often comes to dinner with another, using good feelings. And again, exploitation is for us.

Probably, in our world it is impossible to completely avoid the mercenary moment. Therefore, we can speak, even in the brightest perspective, only of weakening the exploitation of man by man.