Crossword Genius

End possibly giving cold comfort (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cease

'end' is the definition.
(to cease is to come to an end)

'giving cold comfort' is the wordplay.
'giving' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'cold' becomes 'C' (eg on taps).
'comfort' becomes 'ease' (synonyms).
'c'+'ease' is 'CEASE'.

'possibly' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for cease that I've seen before include "Stop, terminate" , "Discontinue" , "Political group" , "Stop, give over" , "Desist" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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