Dispute using low tactics initially (4)
I believe the answer is:
moot
'dispute' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'low tactics initially' is the wordplay.
'low' becomes 'moo' ('moo' can be a synonym of 'low').
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'tactics' is 't'.
'moo'+'t'='MOOT'
'using' is the link.
(Other definitions for moot that I've seen before include "Questionable, debatable" , "raise for discussion" , "Subject to dispute" , "Open to argument or debate" , "Propose for discussion" .)