Crossword Genius

Snape is gutted Harry strained regarding uphill task (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sisyphean

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'snape is gutted harry strained regarding uphill task' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'snape is gutted harry strained' is the wordplay.
'gutted' means to remove the middle letters (to gut something is to remove its insides).
'strained' indicates an anagram.
'harry' with its centre taken out is 'hy'.
'snape'+'is'+'hy'='snapeishy'
'snapeishy' with letters rearranged gives 'SISYPHEAN'.

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(Other definitions for sisyphean that I've seen before include "Endlessly laborious" , "requiring unending effort" , "Like tragic character's work" , "Denoting an unfinishable task" , "such an arduous task" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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