Crossword Genius

Liberating act newly-formed charity almost bungled (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cathartic

'liberating' is the definition.
(cathartic can mean liberating or freeing)

'act newly-formed charity almost bungled' is the wordplay.
'newly formed' indicates an anagram.
'almost' means to remove the last letter (most of the word but not all of it).
'bungled' is an anagram indicator.
'charity' with its final letter removed is 'charit'.
'act' with letters rearranged gives 'cat'.
'charit' with letters rearranged gives 'hartic'.
'cat'+'hartic'='CATHARTIC'

(Other definitions for cathartic that I've seen before include "Purgative" , "releasing suppressed emotions" , "Purging" , "Releasing pent-up emotions" , "Cleansing - purifying" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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