Softly I can somehow produce widespread alarm (5)

I believe the answer is:

panic

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'widespread alarm' is the definition.
'panic' can be an answer for 'alarm' (alarm can mean panic or worry). I'm unsure of the 'widespread' bit.

'softly i can somehow' is the wordplay.
'softly' becomes 'p' (short for piano, musical term for softly).
'somehow' indicates anagramming the letters.
'i'+'can'='ican'
'ican' with letters rearranged gives 'anic'.
'p'+'anic'='PANIC'

'produce' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for panic that I've seen before include "Fear out of sixteen ac" , "Alarm - terror" , "Go to pieces" , "State of overwhelming fear" , "Great consternation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.

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