Crossword Genius

Awfully isolated, having dismissed fifty yes-men (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

toadies

'yes-men' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'awfully isolated having dismissed fifty' is the wordplay.
'awfully' indicates an anagram.
'having dismissed' is a deletion indicator.
'fifty' becomes 'l' (Roman numeral).
'isolated' with 'l' taken out is 'isoated'.
'isoated' with letters rearranged gives 'TOADIES'.

(Other definitions for toadies that I've seen before include "Flatterers, sycophants" , "Slimy amphibious types" , "Yes-men" , "They suck up" , "Bootlickers" .)

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