Pleased offensive participants calmed down (8)

I believe the answer is:

easedoff

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'calmed down' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot judge whether this works.

'pleased offensive participants' is the wordplay.
'participants' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue (some letters 'participating' in the clue).
'EASEDOFF' is hidden in the letters of 'pleased offensive'.

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I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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