Crossword Genius

Strikes back to fight verbally (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spar

'fight verbally' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'strikes back' is the wordplay.
'strikes' becomes 'raps' ('rap' can be a synonym of 'strike').
'back' is a reversal indicator.
'raps' reversed gives 'SPAR'.

'to' is the link.

(Other definitions for spar that I've seen before include "Rafter, boom" , "Argue" , "quarrel" , "Box without punching hard" , "Translucent mineral" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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