Crossword Genius

Nude left almost shivering — what’s required? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

needful

'required?' is the definition.
('needful' can be a synonym of 'required')

'nude left almost shivering' is the wordplay.
'almost' means to remove the last letter (most of the word but not all of it).
'shivering' is an anagram indicator.
'nude'+'left'='nudeleft'
'nudeleft' with its final letter removed is 'nudelef'.
'nudelef' is an anagram of 'NEEDFUL'.

'what's' is the link.

(Other definitions for needful that I've seen before include "Indispensable" , "Required" , "Poverty-stricken" , "Requisite, necessary" , "Necessary for nude elf" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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