Crossword Genius

Ditch wants stripping and cutting (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

trenchant

'cutting' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'ditch wants stripping' is the wordplay.
'ditch' becomes 'trench' (trench is a kind of ditch).
'stripping' says to take the centre (outer letters strip off).
The central letters of 'wants' are 'ant'.
'trench'+'ant'='TRENCHANT'

'and' is the link.

(Other definitions for trenchant that I've seen before include "Distinct" , "caustic?" , "Sharp" , "Vigorous, incisive" , "Expressively incisive" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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