Harassed as puddings sent back (8)
I believe the answer is:
stressed
'harassed as' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'puddings sent back' is the wordplay.
'puddings' becomes 'desserts' (I've seen this before).
'sent back' is a reversal indicator.
'desserts' backwards is 'STRESSED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stressed that I've seen before include "Singled out as important" , "Strained or emphasised" , "Brought out" , "on edge" , "Feeling tension" .)