Crossword Genius

Dismay people after company rents altered (13)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

consternation

'dismay' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'people after company rents altered' is the wordplay.
'people' becomes 'nation' (**).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'company' becomes 'co' (abbreviation).
'altered' is an anagram indicator.
'rents' anagrammed gives 'nster'.
'co'+'nster'='conster'
'nation' put after 'conster' is 'CONSTERNATION'.

(Other definitions for consternation that I've seen before include "Feelings of dismay" , "Worry" , "Anxiety, dismay" , "Dismay - cast-iron tenon (anag)" , "Alarm" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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