Stuffing rook into pot is cruel (5)

I believe the answer is:

harsh

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'cruel' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'stuffing rook into pot' is the wordplay.
'stuffing rook' becomes 'r' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'into' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'pot' becomes 'hash' (hash is a kind of pot).
'r' going within 'hash' is 'HARSH'.

'is' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for harsh that I've seen before include "Abrasive, rough or unkind" , "Unpleasantly rough" , "Grating; severe" , "Not relenting" , "Rough and disagreeable, maybe of voice" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun and The Telegraph.

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