Crossword Genius

Struck by a most unusual eye-opener (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

smote

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

'a most unusual eye-opener' is the wordplay.
'unusual' indicates an anagram.
'opener' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'eye' is 'e'.
'most' anagrammed gives 'smot'.
'smot'+'e'='SMOTE'

'by' is the link.

(Other definitions for smote that I've seen before include "Hit" , "Struck firmly" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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