Crossword Genius

Lack of confidence provided by popular refuge (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

insecurity

'lack of confidence' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'by popular refuge' is the wordplay.
'by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'popular' becomes 'in'.
'refuge' becomes 'security' (I've seen this before**).
'in' next to 'security' is 'INSECURITY'.

'provided' acts as a link.

(Another definition for insecurity that I've seen is " Lack of confidence; anxiety".)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times (Crosaire) and the Irish Times.
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