Crossword Genius

Detest moderate old minister punches (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abominate

'detest' is the definition.
(abominating is a kind of detesting)

'moderate old minister punches' is the wordplay.
'moderate' becomes 'abate' (I've seen this before).
'old' becomes 'o' (abbreviation).
'minister' becomes 'min' (abbreviation).
'punches' means one lot of letters goes inside another (punch can mean to create a hole in).
'o'+'min'='omin'
'abate' placed around 'omin' is 'ABOMINATE'.

(Other definitions for abominate that I've seen before include "Amoeba nit - easy to loathe" , "Loathe, detest" , "Be revolted by" , "Hate" , "Dislike deeply" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times and The Times.
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