Exploit tax cuts, becoming loathed (8)
I believe the answer is:
detested
'loathed' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'exploit tax cuts' is the wordplay.
'exploit' becomes 'deed' ('deed' can be a synonym of 'exploit').
'tax' becomes 'test' (I've seen this before).
'cuts' means one lot of letters goes inside another (a group of letters 'cuts' into another word).
'deed' enclosing 'test' is 'DETESTED'.
'becoming' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for detested that I've seen before include "not at all popular" , "Abhorred" , "Despised" , "Loathed over test deed" , "Greatly hated" .)