Crossword Genius

Burn for wickedness with gruesome ends (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

singe

'burn' is the definition.
(singing is a kind of burning)

'wickedness with gruesome ends' is the wordplay.
'wickedness' becomes 'sin' ('sin' can be a synonym of 'wickedness').
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'ends' suggests removing the centre.
'gruesome' with its middle taken out is 'ge'.
'sin'+'ge'='SINGE'

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for singe that I've seen before include "Effect of fire" , "Result of match accident" , "Burn slightly on surface" , "Scorch slightly on surface" , "Burn; ignes (anag.)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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