Crossword Genius

Grim condition of faulty stun-grenades red dropped (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

gauntness

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'grim condition' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.

'faulty stun-grenades red dropped' is the wordplay.
'faulty' is an anagram indicator.
'dropped' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'stun'+'grenades'='stungrenades'
'stungrenades' with 'red' taken out is 'stungnaes'.
'stungnaes' is an anagram of 'GAUNTNESS'.

'of' acts as a link.

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I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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