Instrumentalising

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Treating a person or idea as a mere means to an end ; making use of something as a tool for a particular goal
2. Regarding people or principles as simple instruments for reaching a desired result ; employing something to serve a specific aim
3. Exploiting others or concepts as mere devices for advancing a cause ; putting something to work as a means of achieving a purpose

Etymology: The word is a straightforward building block: "instrumental" plus the verb-forming suffix "-ise", with "-ing" added to make the present participle and gerund. The suffix has a long lineage of its own. It came from Ancient Greek "-izein", passed into Late Latin as "-izare", reached English through Old French, and settled into English as "-ise" during the Middle English period. The base word "instrumental" carries the older sense. It comes from "instrument", a tool or implement, and in its earliest uses it simply described something that served as a means or agency for an end. Adding "-ise" turns that adjective into a verb meaning to treat a person or thing as a mere tool for achieving some purpose. That shift from neutral to exploitative is what gives the modern verb its edge, especially in discussions of people being used for another's ends.

Synonyms: utilize, exploit, use