Crossword Genius

Admonish agent over insect (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

reproach

'admonish' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'agent over insect' is the wordplay.
'agent' becomes 'rep' (short for representative).
'over' says to put letters next to each other (in a down clue, some letters go over others).
'insect' becomes 'roach' (roach is a kind of insect).
'rep'+'roach'='REPROACH'

(Other definitions for reproach that I've seen before include "Chide" , "Admonition" , "Express disapproval or disappointment" , "Castigate" , "Upbraiding, censure" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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