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Worked on material, irritated after satirist cleared out (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stitched

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'worked on material' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?

'irritated after satirist cleared out' is the wordplay.
'irritated' becomes 'itched' (itching is a kind of irritating).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'cleared out' means to remove the middle letters.
'satirist' with its middle taken out is 'st'.
'itched' after 'st' is 'STITCHED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for stitched that I've seen before include "Joined up" , "after action in theatre?" , "Fastened by sewing" , "Fasten by sewing" , "Sewn" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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