Crossword Genius

Just ego is hurt -- badly (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

righteous

'just' is the definition.
('righteous' is associated in meaning with 'just')

'ego is hurt badly' is the wordplay.
'badly' indicates anagramming the letters.
'ego'+'is'+'hurt'='egoishurt'
'egoishurt' anagrammed gives 'RIGHTEOUS'.

(Other definitions for righteous that I've seen before include "Morally justifiable, or people who behave thus" , "Showing virtue" , "Moral - virtuous" , "Just, upright" , "Morally justified" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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