Hurtful points in complaints (9)
I believe the answer is:
illnesses
'complaints' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both states of affairs as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'hurtful points in' is the wordplay.
'hurtful' becomes 'illness' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'points' becomes 'se' (two compass points).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'illness' going around 'se' is 'ILLNESSES'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for illnesses that I've seen before include "conditions" , "States of poor health, maladies" , "Maladies, sicknesses" , "Impairments of organisms" .)