Bankrupt in Government making a total mess (7)
I believe the answer is:
ruining
'a total mess' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
'bankrupt in government' is the wordplay.
'bankrupt' becomes 'ruin' ('ruin' can be a synonym of 'bankrupt').
'government' becomes 'g'.
'ruin'+'in'+'g'='RUINING'
'making' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ruining that I've seen before include "Irreparably damaging" , "Spoiling" , "Destroying completely" .)