Crossword Genius

Tickle bird, badly worried (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

titillate

'tickle' is the definition.
('titillate' can be a synonym of 'tickle')

'bird badly worried' is the wordplay.
'bird' becomes 'tit' (I've seen this before).
'badly' becomes 'ill' ('ill' can be adverbial as in 'ill-advised').
'worried' becomes 'ate' (something worrying may eat someone up).
'tit'+'ill'+'ate'='TITILLATE'

(Other definitions for titillate that I've seen before include "arouse interest" , "Stimulate agreeably" , "Gently stimulate" , "Excite erotically" , "Tickle" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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