Crossword Genius

Insolence regretted, we hear, to Head (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rudeness

'insolence' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'regretted we hear to head' is the wordplay.
'regretted' becomes 'rued' ('rue' can be a synonym of 'regret').
'we hear' shows a homophone (sound like).
'to head' becomes 'ness' (ness is a headland).
'rued' sounds like 'rude'.
'rude'+'ness'='RUDENESS'

(Other definitions for rudeness that I've seen before include "Vulgarity" , "Offensive bad manners" , "Discourtesy" , "Lip" , "loutish behaviour" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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