Crossword Genius

Beloved harbouring fear finally becomes dull (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

drear

'dull' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'beloved harbouring fear finally' is the wordplay.
'beloved' becomes 'dear' ('dear' can be a synonym of 'beloved').
'harbouring' indicates putting letters inside.
'finally' suggests the final letters.
The last letter of 'fear' is 'r'.
'dear' going around 'r' is 'DREAR'.

'becomes' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for drear that I've seen before include "Morose" , "Depressingly dull" , "gloomy in poem" , "Dull, bleak, depressing" , "Dismal (literary)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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