The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word USES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
U
S
E
S
More clues leading to the result USES
- Father’s shunned breaks in outmoded resorts
- House-sitter keeps applications
- Employs punsters on regular basis
- Employs some house-sitters
- Has recourse to sneaky moves, ignoring resistance
- Takes 22 tablets
- What an employer does is manipulates
- Exercises adopted by amorous escorts
- Exploits of United States elected state leaders
- Considers abandoning masculine exercises
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Exploits" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case exploits = uses.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 USES mean?
USES noun- The act of using.
- The act of consuming alcohol or narcotics.
- (followed by "of") Usefulness, benefit.
- A function; a purpose for which something may be employed.
- Occasion or need to employ; necessity.
- Interest for lent money; premium paid for the use of something; usury.
- Continued or repeated practice; usage; habit.
- Common occurrence; ordinary experience.
- The special form of ritual adopted for use in any diocese.
- (forging) A slab of iron welded to the side of a forging, such as a shaft, near the end, and afterward drawn down, by hammering, so as to lengthen the forging.
- To utilize or employ.
- To accustom; to habituate. (Now common only in participial form. Uses the same pronunciation as the noun; see usage notes.)
- (except in past tense) To habitually do; to be wont to do. (Now chiefly in past-tense forms; see used to.)
- To behave toward; to act with regard to; to treat.
- To behave, act, comport oneself.
- A form of equitable ownership peculiar to English law, by which one person enjoys the profits of lands, etc. whose legal title is vested in another in trust.