Exploitative soldiers object, in charge (9)
I believe the answer is:
parasitic
'exploitative' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'soldiers object in charge' is the wordplay.
'soldiers' becomes 'paras' (para is a kind of soldier).
'object' becomes 'it' (pronoun for an inanimate object).
'in charge' becomes 'ic' (abbreviation for 'in charge').
'paras'+'it'+'ic'='PARASITIC'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for parasitic that I've seen before include "Having food provided by host" , "to be paid for by someone else" , "hanging on?" , "Bloodsucking" , "Living off another organism" .)