Crossword Genius

Smart, if I cease revealing cunning (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

artifice

'cunning' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'smart if i cease revealing' is the wordplay.
'revealing' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'ARTIFICE' is hidden within 'smart if i cease'.

(Other definitions for artifice that I've seen before include "BRICK/TRICK" , "Subtle deception" , "Race it if (anag) - cunning" , "Clever trick intended to mislead" , "Contrivance, trickery" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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