Like a deficient cellist maybe, carrying on regardless (7)
I believe the answer is:
unbowed
'like' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for unbowed that I've seen before include "Not having submitted to pressure" , "Not accepting demands" , "Not defeated" , "Not like Cupid" , "pizzicato?" .)