Crossword Genius

Suffering one back spasm is wrong (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

illicit

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

'suffering one back spasm' is the wordplay.
'suffering' becomes 'ill' (suffering with illness).
'one' becomes 'I' (Roman numeral).
'back' is a reversal indicator.
'spasm' becomes 'tic' (tic is a kind of spasm).
'tic' written backwards gives 'cit'.
'ill'+'i'+'cit'='ILLICIT'

(Other definitions for illicit that I've seen before include "Not approved by law" , "not conforming to regulations" , "Without approval" , "Forbidden by law, rules" , "breaking the law" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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