Crossword Genius

Struggling near-dunce shows staying-power (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

endurance

'staying-power' is the definition.

'struggling near-dunce' is the wordplay.
'struggling' indicates an anagram (I've seen this in other clues).
'near'+'dunce'='neardunce'
'neardunce' anagrammed gives 'ENDURANCE'.

'shows' is the link.

(Other definitions for endurance that I've seen before include "Power to withstand hardship or stress" , "Lasting quality" , "Fortitude" , "Patient toleration" , "Shackleton took to the Antarctic" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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