Crossword Genius

Hate stealing or wicked crime (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

enormity

'wicked crime' is the definition.
(enormity can mean something evil)

'hate stealing or' is the wordplay.
'hate' becomes 'enmity' (enmity is a kind of hate).
'stealing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'enmity' placed around 'or' is 'ENORMITY'.

(Other definitions for enormity that I've seen before include "Outrage" , "Grave crime or sin" , "act of wickedness?" , "horror" , "Atrociousness" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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