State obtained a number of questionable gains (3-6)
I believe the answer is:
ill-gotten
'state obtained a number of questionable gains' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'state obtained a number' is the wordplay.
'state' becomes 'ill' (ill is a kind of state).
'obtained' becomes 'got' ('get' can be a synonym of 'obtain').
'a number' becomes 'ten' (ten is a number).
'ill'+'got'+'ten'='ILL-GOTTEN'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ill-gotten that I've seen before include "Obtained unjustly" , "Obtained wrongly or criminally - give telling to" , "These gains are through evil or unlawful means" , "These gains are obtained by unlawful means" , "These gains are the product of crime - need telling to" .)