Linguistically proficient learner's avoided repeat (7)

I believe the answer is:

iterate

'repeat' is the definition.
(synonyms)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for iterate that I've seen before include "Repeat, state again" , "Recapitulate" , "Utter or perform repeatedly" , "Say again, repeat" , "State repeatedly, say again" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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