Crossword Genius

Showing uninterested state, is told off by head (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stolidness

'showing uninterested state is told off by head' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'is told off by head' is the wordplay.
'off' indicates anagramming the letters.
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'head' becomes 'ness' (ness is a headland).
'is'+'told'='istold'
'istold' with letters rearranged gives 'stolid'.
'stolid'+'ness'='STOLIDNESS'

(Another definition for stolidness that I've seen is " In impassivity".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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