Energy cut in depressed region, creating damage (9)
I believe the answer is:
detriment
'damage' is the definition.
(I know that detriment is a type of damage)
'energy cut in depressed region' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'energy' could be 'e' (physics symbol as in E=mc2) and 'e' is located in the answer.
'cut' could be 'trim' (trim is a kind of cut) and 'trim' is found within the answer.
'region' could be 'den' (den is a kind of region) and 'den' is located in the leftover letters.
A single letter 't' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'creating' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for detriment that I've seen before include "Harm, damage" , "Possible loss" , "Damage, loss" , "State of being harmed or damaged" , "hurt" .)