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Most restrained in very noisy trial (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

softest

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'most restrained' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are superlative adjectives. Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'very noisy trial' is the wordplay.
'very' becomes 'so' (I've seen this in other clues).
'noisy' becomes 'f'.
'trial' becomes 'test' (synonyms).
'so'+'f'+'test'='SOFTEST'

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for softest that I've seen before include "Least hard or rough" , "Lowest in volume" , "Most delicate or most lenient" , "most weak" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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