Crossword Genius

Secular Tory introduced Blunt (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

laconic

'blunt' is the definition.
(laconic means terse or blunt)

'secular tory introduced' is the wordplay.
'secular' becomes 'laic' (synonyms).
'tory' becomes 'con' (abbreviation for conservative).
'introduced' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'laic' placed around 'con' is 'LACONIC'.

(Other definitions for laconic that I've seen before include "Terse in conical way" , "Col Cain (anag) - expressed in a few words" , "like a man of few words" , "Saying few words" , "Spartan" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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