Being nice, answer eager outsiders to indicate it's not as far (6)

I believe the answer is:

nearer

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'it's not as far' is the definition.
('near' can be the opposite of 'far' so perhaps 'nearer' is reasonable for 'not as far')

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for nearer that I've seen before include "More proximate" , "Closer at hand" , "Less remote" , "Well-known hymn '. . . . . . my God to Thee'" , "Closer, not so far" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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