The phrase "using for one's own ends" entails taking advantage of someone or something to achieve one's desired outcome. There are several synonyms to describe this behavior, including exploiting, manipulating, and leveraging. Exploiting implies taking advantage of someone or something for one's own benefit with little regard for their well-being or interests. Manipulating suggests controlling or influencing a situation or person for one's own advantage through deceptive or underhanded means. Leveraging, on the other hand, refers to utilizing a resource or situation to gain an advantage over others or achieve one's goals more effectively. Regardless of the word used, using something for one's own ends can be ethically dubious and potentially harmful to others.
