Crossword Genius

Exhausted writer in street (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spent

'exhausted' is the definition.
('spent' can be similar in meaning to 'exhausted')

'writer in street' is the wordplay.
'writer' becomes 'pen' (I've seen this before).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'street' becomes 'st'.
'pen' inserted within 'st' is 'SPENT'.

(Other definitions for spent that I've seen before include "(Of resources) exhausted" , "Paid out - finished" , "Splashed out" , "Worn out - after shopping?" , "Completely exhausted" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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