Do have a setback with debts admitted to be bad (6)
I believe the answer is:
odious
'be bad' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'do have a setback with debts admitted' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'debts' could be 'ious' (promises to pay debts) and 'ious' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'od' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for odious that I've seen before include "Hateful and disgusting" , "Disagreeable" , "Repellent" , "Really hateful, abhorrent" , "Detestable, greatly disliked" .)