Help to secure credit coming with a sting (5)
I believe the answer is:
acrid
'coming with a sting' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'help to secure credit' is the wordplay.
'help' becomes 'aid' (synonyms).
'to secure' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters are secured inside).
'credit' becomes 'cr' (abbreviation).
'aid' enclosing 'cr' is 'ACRID'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for acrid that I've seen before include "Sarcastic" , "Pungent; caustic" , "Sharp - biting" , "Pungent or sharp, like smoke" , "causing corrosion" .)