Crossword Genius

Nothing that is right may be worse (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

naughtier

'be worse' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'nothing that is right' is the wordplay.
'nothing' becomes 'naught' ('naught' can be a synonym of 'nothing'**).
'that is' becomes 'ie' ('i.e.' can be a synonym of 'that is').
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'naught'+'ie'+'r'='NAUGHTIER'

'may' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for naughtier that I've seen before include "Worse" , "More badly behaved" , "More mischievous" , "Less well behaved" , "more unruly" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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