Almost always used in negative patterns such as なすすべもない (have no means) or なすすべもなく (without any way). Describes a situation where one is at a loss and has no course of action.
See also: なすすべもない
With the sudden blackout, I sat in the dark without any means to do anything.
彼はなすすべもなく、ただ相手の言いなりになっていた。
He had no way to act and simply did as the other person said.
Common mixed kanji-kana spelling; usually written in kana.
Full kanji spelling; less common but still encountered.
From 為す (なす, 'to do') + 術 (すべ, 'means, way'). The reading すべ for 術 is an older native Japanese word for 'method' or 'technique'.