Requires denes to be damaged (5)
I believe the answer is:
needs
'requires' is the definition.
('need' can be a synonym of 'require')
'denes to be damaged' is the wordplay.
'to be damaged' indicates anagramming the letters.
'denes' is an anagram of 'NEEDS'.
(Other definitions for needs that I've seen before include "What is required" , "Requires or lacks" , "Can't do without" , "What we require" , "shopping-list, say" .)