verb

ausnutzen

take advantage of · take advantage · exploit

Jemanden oder etwas nur für den eigenen Vorteil gebrauchen, oft ohne fair zu sein.

The German word "ausnutzen" is a verb composed of the root word "Nutzen" which means "use" or "benefit," combined with the prefix "aus-" indicating "fully" or "completely." So it literally means "to fully use" or "to exploit."

Meaning:

To take full advantage of something or someone
Can be neutral (e.g., eine Gelegenheit ausnutzen – to make use of an opportunity)
Or negative, implying misuse or exploitation, especially of people (e.g., jemanden ausnutzen – to exploit someone)

Similar words:

benutzen (to use)
ausbeuten (to exploit, usually negative)
verwenden (to use)

Difference:

ausnutzen often implies maximizing use or sometimes exploiting, while benutzen is a neutral "use."
ausbeuten strongly implies exploitation, usually unfairly or unethically.
verwenden is more formal/technical for "to use."