Clear return in dire circumstances derided (9)
I believe the answer is:
ridiculed
'derided' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'clear return in dire circumstances' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'clear' could be 'rid' (synonyms) and 'rid' is found in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ridiculed that I've seen before include "Scorned" , "Made fun of" , "Queered" , "Mocked" , "Made mockery of" .)