Crossword Genius

Mocked, seen working with communist (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sneered

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'mocked' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I cannot understand how they can define each other.

'seen working with communist' is the wordplay.
'working with' is an anagram indicator (working with the letters).
'communist' becomes 'red' (red can informally mean communist).
'seen' with letters rearranged gives 'snee'.
'snee'+'red'='SNEERED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sneered that I've seen before include "Smiled contemptuously" , "Derided" , "Mocked contemptuously" , "Was contemptuous" , "Showed contempt" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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