Resolute criminal met dire end (10)
I believe the answer is:
determined
'resolute' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'criminal met dire end' is the wordplay.
'criminal' indicates an anagram.
'met'+'dire'+'end'='metdireend'
'metdireend' with letters rearranged gives 'DETERMINED'.
(Other definitions for determined that I've seen before include "Resolved" , "settled" , "With full strength and concentration" , "Decided - resolute" , "set" .)