Crossword Genius

Husband in motor publicity initially enduring mockery (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

charade

'mockery' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'husband in motor publicity initially enduring' is the wordplay.
'husband' becomes 'h' (abbreviation).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'motor' becomes 'car' (informal term for car).
'publicity' becomes 'ad' (short for advert).
'initially' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letter of 'enduring' is 'e'.
'h' inserted inside 'car' is 'char'.
'char'+'ad'+'e'='CHARADE'

(Other definitions for charade that I've seen before include "Pretence; parlour game" , "Sustained pretence" , "Ludicrous pretence" , "Had care in the acted riddle" , "Party game using mime" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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