Viewer hugs dog tighter (7)
I believe the answer is:
securer
'tighter' is the definition.
(more secure)
'viewer hugs dog' is the wordplay.
'viewer' becomes 'seer' (someone viewing or seeing things).
'hugs' is an insertion indicator.
'dog' becomes 'cur' (both can mean a despicable person).
'seer' placed around 'cur' is 'SECURER'.
(Other definitions for securer that I've seen before include "maybe less likely to lose job?" , "Being safer with rescuer" .)