resort to something phrasal verb (see also resort)
to do something bad, extreme, or difficult because you cannot think of any other way to deal with a problem:
Officials fear that extremists may resort to violence.
resort to doing something
Vets have had to resort to killing the animals.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

use:
Do you mind if I use your phone?
They rebuilt the church using local stone.
We use a range of different methods.
make use of something to use something that is available to you:
Staff can make use of a wide range of facilities.
She made full use of her contacts within the organization.
employ formal to use a particular method or skill in order to achieve something:
The surgeons employed a new technique.
They employed every means at their disposal (=every available method).
utilize formal to use something that is available to you, for a practical purpose:
The company has developed a new way to utilize solar energy.
a better way of utilizing the space
exploit to use something as fully and effectively as possible, or to use something that will give you an advantage over your opponent:
The country’s natural resources have not yet been fully exploited.
He was quick to exploit any weakness in his opponent’s argument.
apply to use something such as a method, idea, or system in a particular situation:
New technology is being applied to almost every industrial process.
I wanted to apply the things that I had learned on the course.
draw on something to use information, knowledge, or experience that you have learned in the past:
He was able to draw on his own experience as a diplomat when he was writing the book.
Journalists draw on information from many different sources.
resort to something to use violence, force, threats etc as a way of achieving something:
Extremists on both sides resort to violence.
We are prepared to resort to force if necessary.
exercise formal to use your rights, authority, influence etc:
Only 40% of the poulation exercised their right to vote.
Congress must decide whether to exercise its veto.
wield /wiːld/ formal to use great power or influence:
The central banks wield enormous power.
widespread/extensive use (=when something is used in many places or situations, or among many people)
The widespread use of computers changed business completely.
efficient use
Doing the work in stages makes the most efficient use of resources.
effective use
We need to consider whether there could be a more effective use of our time.
heavy/frequent use (=when something is used a lot)
The heavy use of pesticides in the area led to severe health problems.
regular use
These drugs are not recommended for regular use.
greater use
We want to encourage employees to make greater use of the sports facilities.
land use
Our department is responsible for establishing the guidelines for land use in the county.
drug/alcohol use
Drug use among teenage boys is on the increase.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲