Crossword Genius

Warrant being badly severed (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

deserve

'warrant' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'badly severed' is the wordplay.
'badly' indicates an anagram.
'severed' is an anagram of 'DESERVE'.

'being' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for deserve that I've seen before include "Merit (something)" , "Be worth" , "rate" , "Warrant" , "Justify" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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