Crossword Genius

Erasing mildly abusive word about a Conservative (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

effacing

'erasing' is the definition.
('efface' can be a synonym of 'erase')

'mildly abusive word about a conservative' is the wordplay.
'mildly abusive word' becomes 'effing' (mild swear word).
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'conservative' becomes 'C' (UK political abbreviation).
'a'+'c'='ac'
'effing' enclosing 'ac' is 'EFFACING'.

(Other definitions for effacing that I've seen before include "Obliterating, erasing" , "Making oneself inconspicuous" , "Removing" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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