Crossword Genius

Cleared out messy desk to confuse daughter (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

skedaddled

'cleared out' is the definition.
(to skedaddle is to run away or clear out)

'messy desk to confuse daughter' is the wordplay.
'messy' indicates an anagram.
'to confuse' becomes 'addle' (addling is a kind of confusing).
'daughter' becomes 'd' (genealogical abbreviation).
'desk' anagrammed gives 'sked'.
'sked'+'addle'+'d'='SKEDADDLED'

(Another definition for skedaddled that I've seen is " Ran off hurriedly".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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