Dead cute criminal is well-read (8)
I believe the answer is:
educated
'is well-read' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'dead cute criminal' is the wordplay.
'criminal' is an anagram indicator.
'dead'+'cute'='deadcute'
'deadcute' is an anagram of 'EDUCATED'.
(Other definitions for educated that I've seen before include "Well-read" , "Schooled, trained" , "Maybe enlightened" , "Schooled, enlightened" , "Erudite" .)