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Big cheese judged and damned (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

execrated

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'damned' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?

'big cheese judged' is the wordplay.
'big cheese' becomes 'exec' (I've seen this in another clue).
'judged' becomes 'rated' (rating is a kind of judging).
'exec'+'rated'='EXECRATED'

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for execrated that I've seen before include "Cursed; detested" , "Condemned" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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