Crossword Genius

Ray, hugging daughter, left in state of great confusion (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bedlam

'state of great confusion' is the definition.
(Bedlam can mean a state of chaos or madness)

'ray hugging daughter left' is the wordplay.
'ray' becomes 'beam' (synonyms).
'hugging' indicates putting letters inside.
'daughter' becomes 'd' (genealogical abbreviation).
'left' becomes 'L' (common abbreviation).
'd'+'l'='dl'
'beam' placed around 'dl' is 'BEDLAM'.

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for bedlam that I've seen before include "Place of uproar and confusion" , "Blamed for intolerable noise" , "Ambled (anag)" , "Scene of uproar and confusion" , "Mayhem" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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