The term 'unwitting tools' can be summarized as people or objects that are used without their knowledge or consent to achieve a certain goal. This term is often used to describe people who are manipulated by others for their own gain. The crossword solution for this term is 'PAWNS', which is a metaphor for people who are used as tools without their knowledge or consent. PAWNS are often seen as expendable and powerless, making them an apt metaphor for unwitting tools.