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Hit hard — huge letdown (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bathos

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'letdown' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both feelings as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'hit hard huge' is the wordplay.
'hit' becomes 'bat' (batting is a kind of hitting).
'hard' becomes 'h' (abbreviation used in pencil classifications).
'huge' becomes 'os' (abbreviation for outsize).
'bat'+'h'+'os'='BATHOS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for bathos that I've seen before include "Trite anticlimax" , "Ludicrous descent from serious to trivial" , "Serious-to-trivial switch" , "Unintentional trivialisation of mood" , "Unintentional slip from serious to trivial mood" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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