Steamed up in refitted frigate -- leaders of force getting withheld (5)
I believe the answer is:
irate
'steamed' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for irate that I've seen before include "will be up in arms" , "ranting" , "Spitting feathers" , "raging" , "having got in wax" .)