Folded when heartless academics punctured their belief (7)

I believe the answer is:

creased

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'folded' is the definition.
(creasing is a kind of folding)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for creased that I've seen before include "Folded" , "Needing to be ironed?" , "Groovy" , "Needing ironing" , "Wrinkled, rumpled" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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