Cheers with depraved sultan becoming victim of hellish punishment (8)
I believe the answer is:
tantalus
'victim of hellish punishment' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'cheers with depraved sultan' is the wordplay.
'cheers' becomes 'ta' (both can informally mean thank you).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'depraved' is an anagram indicator.
'sultan' with letters rearranged gives 'ntalus'.
'ta'+'ntalus'='TANTALUS'
'becoming' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tantalus that I've seen before include "Son of Zeus and case for decanters" , "Lydian king" , "Lockable case for decanters" , "ancient king" , "Frustrated Greek" .)