Nonsense to applaud with role backfiring (8)
I believe the answer is:
claptrap
'nonsense' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'applaud with role backfiring' is the wordplay.
'applaud' becomes 'clap' ('clap' can be a synonym of 'applaud').
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'role' becomes 'part' ('part' can be a synonym of 'role').
'backfiring' is a reversal indicator.
'part' backwards is 'trap'.
'clap'+'trap'='CLAPTRAP'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for claptrap that I've seen before include "Rhyme" , "Utter rubbish" , "Foolish or pretentious talk" , "Bull" , "Contrived but foolish talk" .)