Crossword Genius

Sluggish winter dreadful without direction (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

inert

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'sluggish' is the definition.
(I know that sluggish can be written as inert)

'winter dreadful without direction' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'direction' could be 'ne' (NE is an example) and 'ne' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for inert that I've seen before include "Lacking vigour, inactive" , "Devoid of motion or change" , "Slow and apathetic" , "(Chem.) not reactive" , "Disinclined to act" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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