Crossword Genius

Impostor to clean computer network receiving thanks (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

charlatan

'impostor' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'clean computer network receiving thanks' is the wordplay.
'clean' becomes 'char' (charwomen char).
'computer network' becomes 'lan' (LAN is an example).
'receiving' is an insertion indicator.
'thanks' becomes 'ta' (UK informal version of 'thank you').
'lan' going around 'ta' is 'latan'.
'char'+'latan'='CHARLATAN'

'to' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for charlatan that I've seen before include "fake" , "Flamboyant deceiver, mountebank" , "Quack, fraud, a flamboyant deceiver" , "Impostor, deceiver" , "imposter" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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