Crossword Genius

Wordplay is hard to beat? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

punish

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

'wordplay is hard' is the wordplay.
'wordplay' becomes 'pun' (synonyms).
'hard' becomes 'h' (abbreviation used in pencil classifications).
'pun'+'is'+'h'='PUNISH'

'to' is the link.

(Other definitions for punish that I've seen before include "Sentence" , "Like wordplay in speech" , "exact retribution" , "Possibly fine" , "Castigate" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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