Crossword Genius

Squeeze no longer squeezed, it's said (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

expressed

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'said' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'squeeze no longer squeezed' is the wordplay.
'squeeze no longer' becomes 'ex' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'squeezed' becomes 'pressed' ('press' can be a synonym of 'squeeze').
'ex'+'pressed'='EXPRESSED'

'it's' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for expressed that I've seen before include "Communicated in words" , "Conveyed in words" , "Verbalised" , "Put into words" , "Stated, uttered" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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