Cryptic crossword clue
Exploited laid-up press chief, employing American 3-4

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 3 plus 4 letter word ILL USED

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
I
L
L
U
S
E
D

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Exploited" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case exploited = ill used.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does ILL USED mean?

ILL USED verb
  1. To treat someone badly, cruelly or unkindly.

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