Attacked appeal Victor developed (7)

I believe the answer is:

savaged

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'attacked' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'appeal victor developed' is the wordplay.
'appeal' becomes 'SA' (old-fashioned abbreviation for sex appeal).
'victor' becomes 'V' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'developed' becomes 'aged' (ageing is a kind of developing).
'sa'+'v'+'aged'='SAVAGED'

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I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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