Crossword Genius

Leave extremely disreputable character (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

depart

'leave' is the definition.
('depart' can be a synonym of 'leave')

'extremely disreputable character' is the wordplay.
'extremely' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters).
'character' becomes 'part' ('part' can be a synonym of 'character'**).
'disreputable' with its centre taken out is 'de'.
'de'+'part'='DEPART'

(Other definitions for depart that I've seen before include "Take one's leave, go" , "Petard (anag.)" , "Prated (anag.)" , "make tracks" , "Make an exit" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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