Crossword Genius

Inflexible military cuts almost destroy Guards (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

entrenched

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'inflexible military cuts almost destroy guards' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'almost destroy guards' is the wordplay.
'almost' means to remove the last letter (most of the word but not all of it).
'destroy' becomes 'end' (I've seen this in another clue).
'guards' becomes 'trenched' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'end' with its final letter taken off is 'en'.
'en'+'trenched'='ENTRENCHED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for entrenched that I've seen before include "Firmly established" , "as certain troops were on Somme?" , "Dug in" , "Difficult to shift" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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