Crossword Genius

Inferior male one avoids without trouble (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

measly

'inferior' is the definition.

'male one avoids without trouble' is the wordplay.
'male' becomes 'm' (common abbreviation).
'one' becomes 'i' (roman numeral).
'avoids' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'without trouble' becomes 'easily'.
'easily' with 'i' removed is 'easly'.
'm'+'easly'='MEASLY'

(Other definitions for measly that I've seen before include "Meagre in quantity (requiring 9 attention?)" , "Contemptibly small in amount" , "Poor" , "Miserably paltry" , "Mean, ungenerous" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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