Crossword Genius

Outside in drizzle, identify tyrant (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

despot

'tyrant' is the definition.
(I know that tyrant can be written as despot)

'outside in drizzle identify' is the wordplay.
'outside in' means to remove the middle letters (only the letters on the outside).
'identify' becomes 'spot' (I've seen this before).
'drizzle' with its middle taken out is 'de'.
'de'+'spot'='DESPOT'

(Other definitions for despot that I've seen before include "nasty ruler?" , "Tyrannical dictator" , "Tyrant, oppressor" , "Tyrant, slave driver" , "Cruel absolute ruler" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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