Crossword Genius

Beat first cynic (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

defeatist

'cynic' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'beat first' is the wordplay.
'beat' becomes 'defeat' (synonyms).
'first' becomes 'ist' (ist resembles dst).
'defeat'+'ist'='DEFEATIST'

(Other definitions for defeatist that I've seen before include "If date set (anag.)" , "One giving in too easily" , "Unnecessarily pessimistic" , "He does not expect to win" , "expecting to fail" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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