Blast staggering cheats (6)
I believe the answer is:
scathe
'blast' is the definition.
(both can mean to criticise someone)
'staggering cheats' is the wordplay.
'staggering' indicates an anagram (letters stagger around).
'cheats' with letters rearranged gives 'SCATHE'.
(Other definitions for scathe that I've seen before include "To scorn" , "Carpet" , "Harm, injure" .)