Crossword Genius

Spies take time to annoy (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

molest

'annoy' is the definition.
(molesting is a kind of annoying)

'spies take time' is the wordplay.
'spies' becomes 'moles' (mole is a kind of spy).
'take' says to put letters next to each other.
'time' becomes 't'.
'moles'+'t'='MOLEST'

'to' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for molest that I've seen before include "Handle roughly, torment" , "Bug" , "Pester unpleasantly" , "Attack sexually" , "Pester; assault" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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