Crossword Genius

Offensive sound around bomb after shelling? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

noisome

'offensive' is the definition.
('noisome' can be similar in meaning to 'offensive')

'sound around bomb after shelling?' is the wordplay.
'sound' becomes 'noise' (noising is a kind of sounding**).
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'after shelling?' means to look at the middle letters (the outer letters or shell are removed).
The middle of 'bomb' is 'om'.
'noise' going around 'om' is 'NOISOME'.

(Other definitions for noisome that I've seen before include "Smelling badly" , "Disgusting -- ie moons (anag)" , "Offensively malodorous" , "Offensively smelling" , "terribly unpleasant" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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